Patent ID: 9625460
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: G01N

Claim:
1. A method for determining, in a sample obtained from a subject, whether: (a) the level of neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 proteins is above or below 988.4 ng/ml or 206.0 ng/ml, respectively; and (b) the combined enzymatic activity of neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 is above or below 0.41 mU/ml; the method comprising the steps of: obtaining the sample from the subject; measuring the enzymatic activities and/or protein levels of neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 proteins in the sample; the step of measuring comprising: (a) contacting the sample from the subject with antibodies against neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 for a time and under conditions allowing the formation of antigen-antibody complexes between neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 proteins present in the sample with the corresponding antibodies, and quantifying the antigen-antibody complexes to determine the levels of neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 proteins; and (b) contacting the sample from the subject with an appropriate substrate under appropriate conditions and determining the combined activity of neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 based on the conversion of the substrate into a product; and determining whether the level of neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 proteins is above or below 988.4 ng/ml or 206.0 ng/ml, respectively, and whether the combined enzymatic activity of neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3 is above or below 0.41 mU/ml.