Patent ID: 7410768
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: C07K,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: (a) providing a sample obtained from a human female, the sample comprising an analyte compound which is a member of the gonadotrophin family; (b) providing a first and a second binding agent, wherein the first binding agent is specific to a first form of the analyte compound characteristic of a menopausal state and the second binding agent is specific to a second form of the analyte compound characteristic of a pre-menopausal or fertile state; (c) reacting a first portion of the sample with the first binding agent to form a first binding agent/analyte compound complex and subsequently reacting the first binding agent/analyte compound complex with the second binding agent to form a first binding agent/analyte compound/second binding agent complex; (d) reacting a second portion of the sample substantially simultaneously with the first binding agent and the second binding agent to form a first binding agent/analyte compound/second binding agent complex; (e) determining the amount of first binding agent/analyte compound/second binding agent/complex formed in step (c) and step (d) and displaying the amounts as a ratio; and (f) comparing the ratio obtained in step (e) to the ratio obtained from a pre-menopausal control, wherein a difference in the two ratios indicates that the human female is in a post-menopausal state.