Patent ID: 8227206

Claim:
A method for detection of pregnancy by evaluating at least one urine sample for ceruloplasmin from a mammalian test subject comprising the steps of: a. collecting at least one fresh urine sample from a test subject; b. adding a substrate specific to ceruloplasmin to said at least one urine sample; c. measuring oxidase activity of said ceruloplasmin through a sequential reading of optical density for oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin using a spectrophotometer to determine the concentration of ceruloplasmin in said at least one urine sample; d. determining the base line level oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin from a nonpregnant mammal of the same species; and e. determining an elevated level of said oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin in said urine sample greater than that of the baseline level of said oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin from a nonpregnant mammal of the same species, said elevated level of said oxidase activity ceruloplasmin in the said urine sample being indicative of pregnancy.