Patent ID: 6383763
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a sample comprising:a) providing: i) a monoclonal antibody directed against an epitope on a portion of alpha antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, wherein said antibody is not reactive with alpha antigen of Mycobacterium avium; ii) a sample suspected of containing at least a portion of said alpha antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; and b) adding said sample to said monoclonal antibody under conditions such that said antibody binds to said epitope of said portion of said alpha antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, to form an antibody-antigen complex, and c) detecting said antibody-antigen complex, under conditions such that the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is detected, wherein said detecting is selected from the group consisting of enzyme immunoassay, radioimmunoassay, fluorescence immunoassay, flocculation, particle agglutination, and in situ chromogenic assay.