Patent ID: 8637256

Claim:
An immunoassay method for determining the release of neurotensin, a polypeptide consisting of amino acids 151-163 of preproneurotensin, a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1, into the circulation of a mammal, the method comprising: a) contacting a plasma or serum sample obtained from said mammal with a first and a second antibody, wherein i. said first and second antibodies, respectively, specifically bind to one or more amino acids of two different regions within amino acids 24-140 of SEQ ID NO:1, a partial peptide of preproneurotensin, and ii. at least one of the first and second antibodies comprises a detectable label; and b) detecting the amount of label bound to the peptide within amino acids 24-140 of SEQ ID NO:1, a partial peptide of preproneurotensin, in said sample, wherein the amount of label indicates the amount of neurotensin released into the circulation of said mammal.