ANTIBODY DETECTION

Abstract: A process for testing for antibodies to the AIDS virus in a liquid sample, which comprises applying the sample on to a zone of a filter material, the zone having AIDS virus or virus particles immobilised therein, and allowing the liquid to pass through the filter material and to be taken up by absorbent material in contact therewith.

Description: ANTIBODY DETECTION RELATION TO EARLIER APPLICATIONS This application is related, inter alia, to the following five patent applications: (1) USA, Serial No. 740,100, filed 3,1st May 1985; (2) USA, Serial No. 857,914, filed 5th May 1986; (3) Europe, No. 86304147.1, filed 30th May 1986, published as EP-A-0206561; (4) Canada, No. 510,307, filed 29th May 1986; and (5) Japan, No. (not yet known) , filed ? May 1986. The specifications of 2, 3, 4 and 5 (including the drawings) are essentially the same and are incorporated herein by reference; that subject matter is hereinafter described as "the parent specification". 3 and 5 are filed in the name of Murex Corporation, claiming priority from 1 and 2. Dinesh Andrew Jacob and Miles Gerald Hossom are named as the inventors. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to detection of antibodies to the AIDS virus. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AIDS has become a worldwide problem over a short time. The problem is only likely to increase in the foreseeable future. There is apparently no cure at present, but spread of the disease could be contained, e.g. until a cure is found, by quick and accurate diagnosis of potential carriers. A subject can usefully be tested by analysis of plasma, serum or another liquid sample, for the presence of antibodies to the virus. PRIOR ART A summary of the prior art is given in the parent specification. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device of the type fully described, claimed and illustrated in the parent specification has AIDS antigen immobilised on the filter material therein and is used for testing for antibodies to the AIDS virus in a liquid sample. In general terms, a filter material has antigen immobilised in a reaction zone thereof, the liquid sample is applied on to the reaction zone and allowed to flow through the filter material where it is taken up by absorbent material disposed in contact with the filter material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The device which is preferably used in the invention comprises an aperture through which the specimen can be introduced; a filter including a reaction zone which receives liquid through the aperture, and a peripheral zone; and absorbent means associated with the peripheral zone, but not the reaction zone, of the filter. Such a device is fully described and illustrated in the parent specification. In a process according to the invention, the specimen is introduced on to the reaction zone of the filter through the aperture, suitably by flow under gravity, and is taken up in the absorbent means/material. By having coated or impregnated the filter material with antigen in the reaction zone, antigen-antibody reaction products remain in the filter, after passage of the specimen and washing as necessary. These products can then be visualised or otherwise tested in conventional manner. By way of example, virus or virus particles are immobilised on latex microparticles or other particles or in the filter material. Owing to the cytotropic nature of AIDS-causing virus or other agent such as HTLV-III, lymphadenopathy virus or AIDS-associated retrovirus, it may be provided on infected T lymphocytes or any other eukaryotic or prokaryotxc cells, or antigen derived from A gene-cloning, which are immobilised. Serum under test is then added, possibly containing anti-HTLV, followed by 5 anti-globulin, e.g. anti-human IgG, enzyme-labelled. Alternatively, viral DNA, e.g. HTLV-DNA, is used, and can be probed with complementary labelled DNA. Again, labelled hydridising DNA can be used to probe DNA exposed by lysis of a clinical sample on the substrate. 10 Washing is conducted as necessary, e.g. between each step as described above. Bound labelled reactant can be visualised in conventional manner, in order to determine the presence of antibody bound to antigen in the reaction zone. 15 20 25 30 * s 35

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A process for testing for antibodies to the AIDS virus in a liquid sample, which comprises applying the sample on to a zone of a filter material, the zone having AIDS virus or virus particles immobilised therein, and allowing the liquid to pass through the filter material and to be taken up by absorbent material in contact therewith. 2. A process according to claim 1, which comprises introducing, after the specimen, a labelled material which binds with the components in the specimen which have been immobilised on the filter. 3. A device which comprises an aperture through which the specimen can be introduced; a filter including a reaction zone which receives liquid through the aperture, and a peripheral zone; and absorbent means associated with the peripheral zone, but not the reaction zone, of the filter; and in which AIDS virus or virus particles are immobilised in the reaction zone. 4. A process or device according to any preceding claim, wherein the virus or virus particles are carried on latex or other particles or on T-lymphocytes. 5. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4. wherein the device is as defined in claim 1 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 6. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 2 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 7. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 3 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 8. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 4 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 9. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 5 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 10. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 6 of USSN _ 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 11. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 5 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 7 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 12. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 8 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 10 13. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 9 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 14. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 10 of USSN 15 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 15. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 11 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 16. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 20 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 12 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 17. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 13 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 25 18. A process or device according to any of, claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 14 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 19. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 15 of USSN 30 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. '"" 20. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 16 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 21. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 35 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 17 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 22. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 18 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 23. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 19 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 24. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 20 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 25. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 21 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 26. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 22 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 27. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 23 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 28. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 24 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 29. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 25 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 30. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 26 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 31. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 27 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 32. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 28 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 33. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 29 of USSN 857,914 or EP-A-0206561. 34. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim- 30 of USSN 857,914. 35. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 31 of USSN 857,914. 36. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 32 of USSN 857,914. 37. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 33 of USSN 857,914. 38. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 34 of USSN 857,914. 39. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 35 of USSN 857,914. 40. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 36 of USSN 857,914. 41. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 37 of USSN 857,914. 42. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 38 of USSN 857,914. 43. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 39 of USSN 857,914. 44. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 40 of USSN 857,914. 45. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 41 of USSN 857,914. 46. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 42 of USSN 857,914. 47. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 43 of USSN 857,914. 48. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 44 of USSN 857,914. 49. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 45 of USSN 857,914. 50. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 46 of USSN 857,914. 51. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 47 of USSN 857,914. 52. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 48 of USSN 857,914. 53. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 49 of USSN 857,914. 54. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 50 of USSN 857,914. 55. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 51 of USSN 857,914. 56. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 52 of USSN 857,914. 57. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 53 pf USSN 857,914. 58. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 54 of USSN 857,914. 59. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 55 of USSN 857,914. 60. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 56 of USSN 857,914. 61. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 57 of USSN 857,914. 62. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 58 of USSN 857,914. 63. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 59 of USSN 857,914. 64. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 60 of USSN 857,914. 65. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 61 of USSN 857,914. 66. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 62 of USSN 857,914. 67. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 63 of USSN 857,914. 68. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 64 of USSN 857,914. 69. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 65 of USSN 857,914. 70. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 66 of USSN 857,914. 71. A process or device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is as defined in claim 67 of USSN 857,914.

Inventors: JACOB DINESH ANDREW, WILLIAMS GWYNFOR REES, JACOB, DINESH, ANDREW, WILLIAMS, GWYNFOR, REES
Applicants: MUREX MEDICAL RESEARCH LIMITED
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G01N33
IPC codes: G01N33, G01N37