Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
In a method for determining the presence of an antigenic ligand in a body fluid suspected of containing the ligand comprising: 1. mixing together an aqueous medium a. a sample of the body fluid; b. a corresponding antigenic ligand labeled with a radioactive isotope; c. a soluble antibody against the antigenic ligand immunogenically produced in an animal other than that from which the sample is obtained, and d. a second antibody against said soluble antibody immunogenically produced in an animal other than those which the sample and said soluble antibody are derived, 2. incubating the resulting aqueous medium to allow the unlabeled ligand, if any, in (a) and labeled ligand (b) to competitively bind on said soluble antibody (c) and to cause mutual precipitation of antibodies of (c) and (d), 3. separating the precipitated antibodies carrying bound ligand from the residual liquid medium containing free ligand, and 4. subsequently measuring the radioactivity of the precipitated antibodies or of the residual liquid, or of both to determine the content of ligand in the sample, the improvement wherein said second antibody (d) is immobilized or insolubilized to a solid phase by polymerization with an aldehyde or alkyl haloformate; by physical entrapment in a gel polymer of an insoluble nature or by covalent coupling with a water-insoluble polymeric material or by adsorption on a water-insoluble polymeric material before it is added in step (1) above.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a method for determining the presence of an antigenic ligand in a body fluid suspected of containing the ligand comprising: 1. mixing together an aqueous medium a. a sample of the body fluid; b. a corresponding antigenic ligand labeled with a radioactive isotope; c. a soluble antibody against the antigenic ligand immunogenically produced in an animal other than that from which the sample is obtained, and d. a second antibody against said soluble antibody immunogenically produced in an animal other than those which the sample and said soluble antibody are derived, 2. incubating the resulting aqueous medium to allow the unlabeled ligand, if any, in (a) and labeled ligand (b) to competitively bind on said soluble antibody (c) and to cause mutual precipitation of antibodies of (c) and (d), 3. separating the precipitated antibodies carrying bound ligand from the residual liquid medium containing free ligand, and 4. subsequently measuring the radioactivity of the precipitated antibodies or of the residual liquid, or of both to determine the content of ligand in the sample, the improvement wherein said second antibody (d) is immobilized or insolubilized to a solid phase by polymerization with an aldehyde or alkyl haloformate; by physical entrapment in a gel polymer of an insoluble nature or by covalent coupling with a water-insoluble polymeric material or by adsorption on a water-insoluble polymeric material before it is added in step (1) above.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said second antibody is insolubilized by polymerization thereof with an insolubilizing agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said second antibody is immobilized by being physically entrapped in a gel polymer of insoluble nature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said second antibody is insolubilized by covalent coupling with a water-insoluble polymeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said second antibody is insolubilized by adsorption on a water-insoluble polymeric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the polymeric material is cellulose.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the insolubilizing agent is a lower alkyl chloroformate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the insoluble polymer gel is a polymer of acrylamide with 1 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of acrylamide of a polyethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least two groups of the formula H 2 C ═ C <.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the ligand to be assayed is human thyroid stimulating hormone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the insolubilizing agent is ethyl chloroformate.