TRANSFER DEVICE FOR SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS

Abstract: A transfer device for serological diagnosis, wherein there are provided means (1) suitable to fit between a pair of opposite plates each equipped with a plurality of vessels (13, 14) intended for containing the serum under exam, the said means (1) constituting a link between pairs of opposite vessels (13, 14), such as to allow the transfer of serum from the vessels (13) in one plate to the vessels (14) in the other plate by turning the whole upside-down.

Description: "Z_i _i_-_I-i_l_£-ιXI----_£2_i--_._._i_-_-2_-I_-Δ_-__-IΔ_-_i£_iI_-" The present invention provides a transfer device for serological diagnosis, to be used in particular in the diagnostic processes for HTLV III virus infections. The transfer device according to the invention allows to interconnect a plurality of opposite vessels, con¬ taining each a small ball coated with antigens, so as to allow, by a single operation, to shift the serum under examination from a vessel to the other so quickly that the liquid temperature has no time to diminish, and absolutely avoiding any contaminations and/or possi¬ bility of mistakes. As it is known, one of the most widely used methods for the laboratory diagnosis of infections is based on the search for specific antibodies through the examination of the subject's- blood samples. The taken sample is introduced in a vessel in contact with a solid substrate, for instance a polystyrene ball covered with antibodies, to which immunoglobulins adhere that are then detected by means of conjugated anti-antibodies . The colouring of the ball, further to the reaction with such anti-antibodies, indicates the presence in blood of the sought for immunoglobulins and, accordingly, the infection state. However, the above mentioned methods, although having a good sensitivity, present an often not sufficiently high specificity. To this effect it has been recently developed a diagno- sis method, which was the object of a separate applica¬ tion by the same Applicant, wherein serum, after immer¬ sion in a vessel containing the antigen-coated substra¬ te, is heated at the end of incubation and the eluate is taken and put in a second vessel, containing in its turn a substrate coated with antigens of the same kind; to them fix the immunoglobulins, that are then detected by the prior art methods. The critical phase of this new process is the elution, that takes place at a temperature oscillating between 50° and 58°C, necessary to cause the specific immunoglo¬ bulins of the various classes - caught by the antigens secured to the first substrate - to detach therefrom, which enables the production of an eluate of specific antibodies of the various classes, with few non-speci- fie antibodies . It is absolutely necessary that the eluate is introduc¬ ed in the vessel that contains the second antigen-coat- ed ball without the temperature decreasing, because in that case the antibodies would be absorbed again by the antigens present on the first substrate. According to the known technique, the transfer of the eluate from the first to the second vessel takes l ce via suction and force-pumps. It clearly appears, therefore, that the problem connect¬ ed with the carrying out of this new diagnosis method consists in the difficulty of transferring the eluate from a vessel to the other quickly enough as to avoid any decrease in temperature, without any contamination of the eluate and with minimum possibility of mistakes. To this end the present invention provides a transfer device consisting substa tially of a plurality of con¬ necting elements, fastened to a common support, and arranged in such a manner as to fit, from either side, to the plates carrying the vessels used at present in laboratories for serological diagnosis. A characteristic of the invention is the special shap¬ ing of its parts that allows to arrange a pair of opposi ' te plates, so that each vessel of one of these plates communicates with the corresponding vessel of the other plate, the whole being watertight; it is thus possible, by a single operation, to shift serum from the vessels in one plate to those in the second plate, without any decrease in temperature taking place. The present invention will be now described in detail, with special reference to the enclosed drawings, in which : - Fig. 1 shows the plane view of the transfer device according to the invention; - Fig. 2 shows the side, partly section view, of a transfer device according to the invention; - Fig. 3 shows a view from above of a detail of the transfer device according to the invention. A plate or support 1 comprises a plurality of elements, each of which is referenced as a whole with No. 2, each of them being suitable to allow connection between a pair of opposite vessels. In the drawing, elements 2 are located at the vertexes of a square link grid. Each element 2 is substantially a hollow cylinder defin¬ ed by side walls 3, inside which passes the serum, that shifts from one vessel to the other. The inside of each element 2 is not of constant size but has a narrowing at the central zone. With special reference to Fig. 2, the upper inner part of element 2 comprises a first, substantially cylindrical section 4, linked to a frusto-conical section 5 and to a lower duct 6, of lesser diameter. The sizes of the frusto-conical section 5 too are inferior to those of the upper cylindrical section 4, so as to define, on the bottom of the latter, a flat peripheral edge 7. The lower duct 6 extends downwards to a certain extent, 10 so as to define an annular groove 8 comprised between said duct 6 and the wall 3 of elemenb 2 . - From the wall of the frusto-conical section 5 extend inwards a number of tongues 1.0; .there is also a pin 11 15 or the like, orthogonal to the axis of 'sections 5 and 6, located at the central zone thereof. Plate 1 comprises further a number of stif ening ribs 12. The utilization takes place as follows: 20 the samples of serum to be examined are inside as many vessels 13 (Fig.2) , present on a support plate and arranged in the same way as the elements 2. Each of these vessels contains, in addition to serum, a small 25 ball coated with the necessary antigens for the dia- gnosis . A The transfer device according to the invention is put on top o the essels, so that their ' edge fits the 30 annular groove 8. Then the ball to be used in the subsequent stage - that is prevented from falling in the underlying vessels by means of pin 11 and tongues 10 - is inserted in the upper zone of each connecting element 2. There is then placed on top of the pile a second plate provided with as many vessels that fit in elements 2 until coming in contact with the annular edge 7. At this point it is sufficient to seize the whole unit and turn - it upside-down, to transfer serum from the lower vessels 13 to the upper vessels, indicated by No. 14. The passage is extremely quick, so that the temperature of the eluate remains constant throughout. The transfer device according to the in ention, there¬ fore, can be inserted between a pair of opposite twin plates, provided each with a plurality of vessels, in such a way as to ensure a continuous link between each vessel of one plate and the corresponding vessel of the other, the said link being direct and watertight. of course the sizes, as well as the employed materials, may vary in accordance with the requirements of use.

Claims: C L AIMS 1. A transfer device for serological diagnosis, wherein there are provided means suitable to fit between a pair of opposite plates each equipped with a plurality of vessels intended for containing the serum under exam, the said means constituting a link between pairs of opposite vessels, such as to allow the transfer of serum from the vessels in one plate to the vessels in the other plate by turning the whole upside-down. 2. Transfer device according to claim 1, wherein said means consist of a plate provided with a plurality of tubular connecting elements extending from both sides, each being suitable to receive the edges- of a pair of vessels, there being provided means operable to ensure watertightness. 3. Transfer device according to claim 2, wherein said ducts comprise a central zone having lesser diameter, so shaped as to define an annular edge at one side, and an annualr groove at the other side, both suitable to act as reference means for the vessel edges. 4. Transfer device according to claim 2, wherein each duct is provided with means fit to prevent the balls held in the vessels from passing into the vessels of the other plate. 5. Transfer device according to claim 3, wherein said central duct comprises a frusto-conical zone linked to a cylindrical zone, a pin orthogonal to the duct axis passing through the duct itself.

Inventors: BEDARIDA GUGLIELMO, BEDARIDA, GUGLIELMO
Applicants: TECHNOGENETICS SPA, TECHNOGENETICS S.P.A.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B01L3
IPC codes: B01L3, G01N33