Optics: measuring and testing – Sample – specimen – or standard holder or support – Fluid containers
Patent
1989-02-08
1992-03-31
Rosenberger, Richard A.
Optics: measuring and testing
Sample, specimen, or standard holder or support
Fluid containers
356336, G01N 2151
Patent
active
051002388
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
Field of Invention
This invention relates to biological assays of the type in which a cuvette is filled with a material having a specific binding agent on its surface and whose ability to scatter light changes upon the addition of a sample containing a specific binding partner to the surface bound agent. The invention also relates to apparatus by which such assays may be performed, and in particular relates to a device and technique for verifying whether a particular cuvette is appropriate for use in a particular analysing apparatus.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Latex agglutination is a well known and established immuno-assay test. The basis for the technique lies in the ability to coat latex spheres (300-800 nm in diameter) with a specific antibody. If the spheres are exposed to a sample containing the relevant antigen then bonding can occur leading to clumping of the latex balls. An alternative form of the test uses latex spheres coated in antigen, samples can then be tested for the presence of the relevant antibody.
Traditionally the test has been carried out manually by transferring quantities of control and test latex from phials within a reagent kit, to a piece of black card, and mixed with the sample to be tested. Agglutination of the latex balls can be clearly seen against the dark background.
It is also known to perform a biological assay by filling a cuvette with a plurality of small diameter spheres (typically of latex) coated with a specific binding agent and to add a sample material to the cuvette and observe whether there is any change in the light scattering properties of the contents of the cuvette as a result of any binding of the sample to the spheres. The change in light scattering properties is brought about by the increased diameter of the spheres due to the binding of the sample material thereto, and if there is binding, then the sample is assumed to contain the specific binding partner of the material on the spheres.
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved cuvette by which such an assay can be performed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved analyser for performing assays using such cuvettes and which performs a verifying test on a cuvette before a biological assay is performed.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved method of performing a biological assay.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention a cuvette adapted to contain spherical particles having a specific binding agent on the surface thereof and which have a detectably different light scattering characteristic in the presence of a material having a specific binding partner therefor, includes a window through which light can be projected for the purpose of determining any change in light scattering properties of the contents of the cuvette, is characterised by an optical element in or on a wall of the cuvette, which when light passes therethrough, causes at least some of the light to be deflected towards a particular point.
By using such a cuvette in combination with a light level detector located at said particular point, a cuvette can be validated before an assay is performed by checking the light level at the said particular point.
Where the cuvette can only be inserted into a testing apparatus in one way, the point is fixed in space and it is merely necessary to check the light level at the said point and determine whether light is incident thereat.
If the cuvette is rotatable about its axis, the point can lie at any position around a circular path and either the light detector must be moveable around the path to find the particular point, or the cuvette must be rotated to move the point onto the detector.
In manner known per se the cuvette contains small latex spheres which are coated with the specific binding agent and the reagent sample is checked by determining whether there is any change in the pattern of the light scattered from the spheres after the sample reagent has been added. (It is understood that the
REFERENCES:
patent: 3512877 (1970-05-01), Mohr
patent: 4465938 (1984-08-01), Kato et al.
patent: 4566791 (1986-01-01), Goldsmith
patent: 4707131 (1987-11-01), Schiek
patent: 4842406 (1989-06-01), Van Bargen
Miller Ann T.
Nailor Paul R.
Orlon Corporation Limited
Rosenberger Richard A.
LandOfFree
Cuvette and apparatus for performing biological assays does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cuvette and apparatus for performing biological assays, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cuvette and apparatus for performing biological assays will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2254733