Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An analytical method for determining the relative amount of a particular hemoglobin derivative in a blood sample, comprising the steps of: (a) treating the blood sample with (i) a thiocyanate salt capable of denaturing substantially all hemoglobin present in the sample and (ii) an oxidant capable of converting substantially all hemoglobin present in the sample to the met-hemoglobin form, (b) assaying the denatured, oxidized blood sample for the amount of total met-hemoglobin present therein which represents the amount of total hemoglobin in the sample, (c) assaying the denatured, oxidized blood sample by immunoassay for the amount of the denatured form of said particular hemoglobin derivative present therein, and (d) calculating, from the assay results obtained from steps (b) and (c), the relative amount of hemoglobin that is in the form of said particular hemoglobin derivative compared to the total amount of hemoglobin in said blood sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An analytical method for determining the relative amount of a particular hemoglobin derivative in a blood sample, comprising the steps of: (a) treating the blood sample with (i) a thiocyanate salt capable of denaturing substantially all hemoglobin present in the sample and (ii) an oxidant capable of converting substantially all hemoglobin present in the sample to the met-hemoglobin form, (b) assaying the denatured, oxidized blood sample for the amount of total met-hemoglobin present therein which represents the amount of total hemoglobin in the sample, (c) assaying the denatured, oxidized blood sample by immunoassay for the amount of the denatured form of said particular hemoglobin derivative present therein, and (d) calculating, from the assay results obtained from steps (b) and (c), the relative amount of hemoglobin that is in the form of said particular hemoglobin derivative compared to the total amount of hemoglobin in said blood sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said particular hemoglobin derivative is hemoglobin Alc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of ferricyanide, chlorate, and nitrite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said oxidant is a ferricyanide salt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) is performed at room temperature and the concentration of thiocyanate salt is about 3 molar or greater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
156 words
An analytical method for determining the relative amount of hemoglobin Alc in a blood sample, comprising the steps of: (a) combining the blood sample with a denaturant solution comprising a thiocyanate salt and an oxidant capable of converting substantially all forms of hemoglobin present in the sample to their met-hemoglobin forms, (b) assaying the denatured, oxidized blood sample for the amount of total met-hemoglobin present therein which represents the amount of total hemoglobin in the sample by measuring absorbance at about 540 nm, (c) assaying the denatured, oxidized blood sample for the amount of denatured hemoglobin Alc present therein by an immunoassay based on the specific affinity of a monoclonal antibody reagent for the denatured form of hemoglobin Alc, and (d) calculating, from the assay results obtained from steps (b) and (c), the relative amount of hemoglobin that is in the form of hemoglobin Alc compared to the total amount of hemoglobin in said blood sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
An analytical method for determining the relative amount of hemoglobin Alc in a blood sample, comprising the steps of: (a) combining the blood sample with a denaturant solution comprising a thiocyanate salt and an oxidant capable of converting substantially all forms of hemoglobin present in the sample to their met-hemoglobin forms, (b) assaying the denatured, oxidized blood sample for the amount of total met-hemoglobin present therein which represents the amount of total hemoglobin in the sample by measuring absorbance at about 540 nm, (c) assaying the denatured, oxidized blood sample for the amount of denatured hemoglobin Alc present therein by an immunoassay based on the specific affinity of a monoclonal antibody reagent for the denatured form of hemoglobin Alc, and (d) calculating, from the assay results obtained from steps (b) and (c), the relative amount of hemoglobin that is in the form of hemoglobin Alc compared to the total amount of hemoglobin in said blood sample.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of ferricyanide, chlorate, and nitrite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said oxidant is a ferricyanide salt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein step (a) is performed at room temperature and the concentration of thiocyanate salt in the denaturant solution is about 3 molar or greater.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said immunoassay is based on particle agglutination inhibition wherein said monoclonal antibody reagent is bound to a water suspensible particle and wherein denatured hemoglobin Alc competes with an agglutinator compound comprising a plurality of epitopic binding sites for said antibody reagent for binding to the reagent particle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the met-hemoglobin assay is performed on a first portion of the blood sample and the immunoassay for denatured hemoglobin Alc is performed on a second portion of the sample.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the met-hemoglobin assay and the immunoassay are performed on the same portion of the treated blood sample or on an aliquot of such sample portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A test system for determining the relative amount of a particular hemoglobin derivative in a blood sample, comprising: (1) a thiocyanate salt capable of denaturing substantially all hemoglobin normally expected to be present in the sample, (2) an oxidant capable of converting substantially all forms of hemoglobin normally expected to be present in the blood sample to their met-hemoglobin forms, and (3) reagents for immunoassaying the denatured oxidized blood sample resulting from combining the blood sample with said thiocyanate salt and oxidant for the amount of the denatured oxidized hemoglobin form of said particular hemoglobin derivative present therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
A test system for determining the relative amount of a particular hemoglobin derivative in a blood sample, comprising: (1) a thiocyanate salt capable of denaturing substantially all hemoglobin normally expected to be present in the sample, (2) an oxidant capable of converting substantially all forms of hemoglobin normally expected to be present in the blood sample to their met-hemoglobin forms, and (3) reagents for immunoassaying the denatured oxidized blood sample resulting from combining the blood sample with said thiocyanate salt and oxidant for the amount of the denatured oxidized hemoglobin form of said particular hemoglobin derivative present therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The test system of claim 13 wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of ferricyanide, chlorate, and nitrite.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The test system of claim 13 wherein said oxidant is a ferricyanide salt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The test system of claim 13 wherein said particular hemoglobin derivative to be determined is hemoglobin Alc.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The test system of claim 16 wherein said oxidant is a ferricyanide salt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The test system of claim 16 wherein the reagents for assaying for denatured hemoglobin Alc comprise a monoclonal antibody reagent specific for the denatured form of hemoglobin Alc.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The test system of claim 18 wherein said immunoassay reagents comprise (i) said monoclonal antibody, or a fragment thereof, bound to a water suspensible particle, and (ii) an agglutinator reagent comprising a plurality of epitopic binding sites for said antibody reagent, whereby said immunoassay reagents are capable of assaying denatured hemoglobin Alc by particle agglutination inhibition.