Patent ID: 8298784
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for assisting in the early detection of Alzheimer's disease, the method comprising: (a) contacting a blood, plasma or serum sample obtained from a patient in whom Alzheimer's disease (AD) is suspected with first and second antibodies, each of which specifically binds to a peptide consisting of the amino acids sequence PEVPPWTGEVSPAQRDGGALGRGPWDSSDRSALLKSKL (SEQ ID NO: 1), wherein said first and second antibodies bind to a pro-atrial naturiuretic peptide (pro-ANP) peptide comprising the amino acids sequence PEVPPWTGEVSPAQRDGGALGRGPWDSSDRSALLKSKL (SEQ ID NO: 1) in said sample to form labeled immunocomplexes of pro-ANP and first and second antibodies and wherein at least one of said first and second antibodies comprises a detectable label; and (b) determining the amount of immunocomplex-associated detectable label in the blood, plasma or serum sample, wherein the amount of detectable label in said sample correlates to the amount of pro-ANP in the sample, wherein, if the amount of pro-ANP in said sample is equal to or greater than 87.0 pmol/L, Alzheimer's disease is indicated.