Antibodies or antigens bound to a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth for immunological techniques

Claim 2

An immunoassay device for detection of an antigen comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; and (b) an antibody directly adsorbed thereon, and directly absorbed and immobilized therein.

Claim 3

The immunoassay device of claim 1 wherein said cloth is selected from the group consisting of woven or non-woven polypropylene, polyester, nylon, and polyethylene cloths.

Claim 4

An immunoassay device for detection of an antibody comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; and (b) an antigen directly adsorbed thereon, and directly absorbed and immobilized therein.

Claim 5

An immunoassay device for detection of an antibody comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; and (b) an antigen directly adsorbed thereon, and directly absorbed and immobilized therein.

Claim 6

The immunoassay device of claim 3 wherein said cloth is selected from the group consisting of woven or non-woven polypropylene, polyester, nylon, and polyethylene cloths.

Claim 7

An immunoassay device comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; (b) antibodies directly adsorbed therein and directly absorbed and immobilized thereon; and (c) specific antigens from a selected test sample, captured by said adsorbed, absorbed and immobilized antibodies.

Claim 8

An immunoassay device comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; (b) antibodies directly adsorbed therein and directly absorbed and immobilized thereon; and (c) specific antigens from a selected test sample, captured by said adsorbed, absorbed and immobilized antibodies.

Claim 9

The immunoassay device of claim 5 wherein said antibodies and said specific antigens respectively comprise bovine serum albumin (BSA) directly adsorbed therein and directly absorbed and immobilized thereon, and anti-BSA immunoglobulin G antibody (IgG) in rabbit serum captured therein by said BSA.

Claim 10

An immunoassay device comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibers exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; (b) antigens directly adsorbed therein and directly adsorbed and immobilized thereon; and (c) specific antibodies from a selected test sample, captured by said adsorbed, absorbed and immobilized antigens.

Claim 11

An immunoassay device comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibers exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; (b) antigens directly adsorbed therein and directly adsorbed and immobilized thereon; and (c) specific antibodies from a selected test sample, captured by said adsorbed, absorbed and immobilized antigens.

Claim 12

The immunoassay device of claim 7 wherein said captured antibodies comprise anti-BSA IgG which are detectable using an anti-rabbit IgG peroxidase conjugate.

Claim 13

The immunoassay device of claim 7 wherein said antigens and said specific antibodies respectively comprise Salmonella lipopolysaccharide directly adsorbed therein and directly absorbed and immobilized thereon, and specific antibodies in egg yolk, captured therein by said Salmonella lipopolysaccharide.

Claim 14

The immunoassay device of claim 7 wherein said antigens and said specific antibodies respectively comprise a selected lipopolysaccharide directly adsorbed therein and directly absorbed and immobilized thereon, and specific antibodies in a selected sample, captured therein by said selected lipopolysaccharide.

Claim 15

The immunoassay device of claim 10 wherein said captured specific antibodies comprise specific antibodies in egg yolk which are detectable using an anti-chicken IgG-peroxidase conjugate.

Claim 16

The immunoassay device of claim 7 wherein said antigens and said specific antibodies respectively comprise Salmonella lipopolysaccharide directly adsorbed therein and directly absorbed and immobilized thereon, and goat anti-Salmonella antibody standards captured by said Salmonella lipopolysaccharide.

Claim 17

An immunoassay device comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; (b) a coating of a suitable adsorbable antigen directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein; and (c) antibodies in an antiserum immunoadsorbed on said antigen coating.

Claim 18

An immunoassay device comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; (b) a coating of a suitable adsorbable antigen directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein; and (c) antibodies in an antiserum immunoadsorbed on said antigen coating.

Claim 19

An immunoassay device comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; (b) a coating of a lipopolysaccharide directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein; and (c) antibodies in an antiserum immunoadsorbed on said lipopolysaccharide coating.

Claim 20

An immunoassay device comprising the combination of: (a) a macroporous synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; (b) a coating of a lipopolysaccharide directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein; and (c) antibodies in an antiserum immunoadsorbed on said lipopolysaccharide coating.

Claim 21

An immunoassay method for detecting an antigen, comprising the steps of: a) treating a surface of a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with an antibody, thereby to have said antibody directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein, thereby to provide an immunoassay cloth; b) incubating said immunoassay cloth with a sample to be tested for the antigen, thereby to adsorb an antigen therein and to provide an antigen-treated incubated cloth; c) washing said antigen-treated incubated cloth with a buffer to remove unadsorbed material; d) incubating said washed cloth with an enzyme-antibody conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antibodies specific for said antigen to be assayed, thereby to provide an incubated cloth; e) washing said incubated cloth with a buffer to remove unreacted conjugate; and f) detecting remaining enzyme-antibody conjugate by incubating said washed incubated cloth in a chromogenic substrate indicator solution to produce a visible colour upon product formation.

Claim 22

An immunoassay method for detecting an antigen, comprising the steps of: a) treating a surface of a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with an antibody, thereby to have said antibody directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein, thereby to provide an immunoassay cloth; b) incubating said immunoassay cloth with a sample to be tested for the antigen, thereby to adsorb an antigen therein and to provide an antigen-treated incubated cloth; c) washing said antigen-treated incubated cloth with a buffer to remove unadsorbed material; d) incubating said washed cloth with an enzyme-antibody conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antibodies specific for said antigen to be assayed, thereby to provide an incubated cloth; e) washing said incubated cloth with a buffer to remove unreacted conjugate; and f) detecting remaining enzyme-antibody conjugate by incubating said washed incubated cloth in a chromogenic substrate indicator solution to produce a visible colour upon product formation.

Claim 23

An immunoassay method for detecting an antigen, comprising the steps of: a) treating a surface of a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with an antibody, thereby to have an antibody directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein, and thereby to provide an intermediate immunoassay cloth; b) applying to the surface of said intermediate immunoassay cloth, a mixture of the antigen being assayed and an enzyme-antibody conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antibodies specific for said antigen being assayed, thereby to provide an immunoassay cloth; c) treating a control identical macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth with a mixture of said antigen being assayed and an enzyme-antibody conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antibodies specific for the antigen being assayed, to provide a control cloth; d) incubating both said immunoassay cloth and said control cloth substantially simultaneously; e) washing said incubated immunoassay cloth and said incubated control cloth with an identical buffer solution; and f) detecting said antigen by incubation of both said immunoassay cloth and said control cloth in a chromogenic substrate indicator solution to produce a visible colour upon product formation, the amount of antigen being determined by the difference in intensity of the colour between said control cloth and said immunoassay cloth.

Claim 24

An immunoassay method for detecting an antigen, comprising the steps of: a) treating a surface of a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with an antibody, thereby to have an antibody directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein, and thereby to provide an intermediate immunoassay cloth; b) applying to the surface of said intermediate immunoassay cloth, a mixture of the antigen being assayed and an enzyme-antibody conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antibodies specific for said antigen being assayed, thereby to provide an immunoassay cloth; c) treating a control identical macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth with a mixture of said antigen being assayed and an enzyme-antibody conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antibodies specific for the antigen being assayed, to provide a control cloth; d) incubating both said immunoassay cloth and said control cloth substantially simultaneously; e) washing said incubated immunoassay cloth and said incubated control cloth with an identical buffer solution; and f) detecting said antigen by incubation of both said immunoassay cloth and said control cloth in a chromogenic substrate indicator solution to produce a visible colour upon product formation, the amount of antigen being determined by the difference in intensity of the colour between said control cloth and said immunoassay cloth.

Claim 25

An immunoassay method for detecting an antibody, comprising the steps of: a) treating a surface of a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with an antigen, thereby to have an antigen directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein, thereby to provide an immunoassay cloth; b) incubating said immunoassay cloth with a sample to be tested for the antibody, thereby to adsorb antibody therein and to provide an incubated cloth; c) washing said incubated cloth with a buffer to remove unadsorbed material and to provide a washed cloth; d) incubating said washed cloth with an enzyme-antiglobulin antibody conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antigens specific for said antibody to be assayed; e) washing said incubated cloth with a buffer to remove unreacted conjugate; and f) detecting remaining enzyme-antiglobulin antibody conjugate by incubating said washed incubated cloth in a chromogenic substrate indicator solution to produce a visible colour upon product formation.

Claim 26

An immunoassay method for detecting an antibody, comprising the steps of: a) treating a surface of a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with an antigen, thereby to have an antigen directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein, thereby to provide an immunoassay cloth; b) incubating said immunoassay cloth with a sample to be tested for the antibody, thereby to adsorb antibody therein and to provide an incubated cloth; c) washing said incubated cloth with a buffer to remove unadsorbed material and to provide a washed cloth; d) incubating said washed cloth with an enzyme-antiglobulin antibody conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antigens specific for said antibody to be assayed; e) washing said incubated cloth with a buffer to remove unreacted conjugate; and f) detecting remaining enzyme-antiglobulin antibody conjugate by incubating said washed incubated cloth in a chromogenic substrate indicator solution to produce a visible colour upon product formation.

Claim 27

An immunoassay method for detecting an antibody, comprising the steps of: a) treating a surface of a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth to have a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with an antigen, thereby to have an antigen directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein, thereby to provide an intermediate immunoassay cloth; b) applying to the surface of said intermediate immunoassay cloth, a mixture of the antibody being assayed and an enzyme-antigen conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antigens specific for said antibody being assayed, thereby to provide an immunoassay cloth; c) treating a control identical macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth with a mixture of said antibody being assayed and an enzyme-antigen conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antigens specific for the antibody being assayed, to provide a control cloth; d) incubating both said immunoassay cloth and said control cloth substantially simultaneously; e) washing said incubated immunoassay cloth and said control cloth with an identical buffer solution; and f) detecting said antibody by incubation of both said immunoassay cloth and said control cloth in a chromogenic substrate indicator solution to produce a visible colour upon product formation, the amount of antibody being determined by the difference in intensity of the colour between said control cloth and said immunoassay cloth.

Claim 28

An immunoassay method for detecting an antibody, comprising the steps of: a) treating a surface of a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth to have a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with an antigen, thereby to have an antigen directly adsorbed thereon and directly absorbed and immobilized therein, thereby to provide an intermediate immunoassay cloth; b) applying to the surface of said intermediate immunoassay cloth, a mixture of the antibody being assayed and an enzyme-antigen conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antigens specific for said antibody being assayed, thereby to provide an immunoassay cloth; c) treating a control identical macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth with a mixture of said antibody being assayed and an enzyme-antigen conjugate prepared by coupling to an enzyme purified antigens specific for the antibody being assayed, to provide a control cloth; d) incubating both said immunoassay cloth and said control cloth substantially simultaneously; e) washing said incubated immunoassay cloth and said control cloth with an identical buffer solution; and f) detecting said antibody by incubation of both said immunoassay cloth and said control cloth in a chromogenic substrate indicator solution to produce a visible colour upon product formation, the amount of antibody being determined by the difference in intensity of the colour between said control cloth and said immunoassay cloth.

Claim 31

An immunoassay procedure comprising the steps of: a) treating a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with lipopolysaccharide; b) incubating said cloth with a test sample purported to contain B. abortus antigen; c) washing said incubated cloth with a buffer to remove any unadsorbed said B. abortus antigen; d) further incubating said washed cloth with an enzyme-antibody conjugate prepared by coupling purified antibody specific for said B. abortus antigen to an indicator enzyme; e) washing said further incubated cloth with buffer to remove unreacted conjugate; and f) detecting remaining conjugate by incubation in a chromogenic substrate-indicator solution which produces a visible colour upon product formation.

Claim 32

An immunoassay procedure comprising the steps of: a) treating a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, with lipopolysaccharide; b) incubating said cloth with a test sample purported to contain B. abortus antigen; c) washing said incubated cloth with a buffer to remove any unadsorbed said B. abortus antigen; d) further incubating said washed cloth with an enzyme-antibody conjugate prepared by coupling purified antibody specific for said B. abortus antigen to an indicator enzyme; e) washing said further incubated cloth with buffer to remove unreacted conjugate; and f) detecting remaining conjugate by incubation in a chromogenic substrate-indicator solution which produces a visible colour upon product formation.

Claim 33

A rapid method for assaying anti-Salmonella IgG in chicken egg yolk, which comprises the steps of: a) capturing specific antibodies in egg yolk onto a macroporous hydrophobic cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, said cloth being coated with Salmonella lipopolysaccharide; and b) detecting said antibodies using an anti-chicken IgG-peroxidase conjugate.

Claim 34

A rapid method for assaying anti-Salmonella IgG in chicken egg yolk, which comprises the steps of: a) capturing specific antibodies in egg yolk onto a macroporous hydrophobic cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance, said cloth being coated with Salmonella lipopolysaccharide; and b) detecting said antibodies using an anti-chicken IgG-peroxidase conjugate.

Claim 35

A rapid immunoassay method which comprises the steps of: a) adsorbing antigens on a macroporous hydrophobic cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; b) capturing specific antibodies from a test sample on said cloth; c) detecting said antibodies using an antiglobulin antibody-enzyme conjugate, which binds to the captured antibody; and d) assaying said enzyme using a chromogenic substrate.

Claim 36

A rapid immunoassay method which comprises the steps of: a) adsorbing antigens on a macroporous hydrophobic cloth, said cloth having a thickness more than about 200 μm and having spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 μm in diameter, said cloth having a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft 2 at 0.5" H 2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thicknesses of about 11 mils to about 40 mils, respectively, said cloth thereby having a structure so that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, it has a large surface area and it has a minimum flow resistance; b) capturing specific antibodies from a test sample on said cloth; c) detecting said antibodies using an antiglobulin antibody-enzyme conjugate, which binds to the captured antibody; and d) assaying said enzyme using a chromogenic substrate.