PATENT ABSTRACTS

An apparatus and method for performing auto- mated sample preparation, DNA amplification and detection, which apparatus has heat- sinking, flat carriers for holding specimens and reagents, devices for heating and cooling and maintaining the specimen to or at any given tem- perature for any given time periods, and a computer to generate signals that control said temperatures and times.

5281517

M E T H O D S F O R I M M U N O P L O I D Y A N A L Y S I S

James W Bacus, Robert Marder assigned to Cell Analysis Systems Inc

A method and apparatus are provided for selec- ting and analyzing a subpopulation of cells or cell objects for a certain parameter such as DNA using image analysis means. The cells are first stained with an alkaline phosphatase technique including a monoclonal antibody specific to a protein in at least one of the cell's cytoplasm or on a cell membrane, thereby marking any cells including the protein as to type. A second staining of the DNA in the nucleus is ac- complished by a Feulgen technique that destroys the cell cytoplasm. After the staining and mar- king, the cells may then be gated using the image analysis means on the visual parameter such as colored DNA or colored antigen into a sub- population that is to be measured. The selected cells may then be examined by digital image pro- cessing and measured for a parameter such as a true actual measurement of DNA in picograms. A quantitation of the measured parameter may be generated and provided.

5281519

S I M P L E , R A P I D A N D R E L I A B L E M E T H O D F O R D E T E C T I N G

T H A L A S S E M I A

Alan N Scheehter, Shu-Zhen Huang, Griffin P Rodgers assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services

A simple, rapid and reliable method for dia- gnosis of thalassemia is described. The method comprises amplification of the cDNA by poly-

589

merase chain reaction and determining the ratio between alpha and beta hemoglobin chain mRNAs.

5281522

R E A G E N T S A N D K I T S F O R D E T E R M I N A T I O N O F F E T A L

F I B R O N E C T I N IN A V A G I N A L S A M P L E

Andrew E Senyei, Nelson N H Teng assigned to Adeza Biomedical Corporation

This invention relates to methods, reagents and kits for detection of normal or ectopic pre- gnancy, the termination of pregnancy, or in- creased risk of preterm labor and rupture of membranes. Each embodiment involves sam- piing from the vaginal cavity, and determining the presence or absence of a specific analyte in the test sample. Sandwich or competition assay procedures can be used. Reagents and reagent kits for the above assays are included. The kit contains anti-(fetal fibronectin) antibody and an anti-fibronectin antibody.

5281540

T E S T A R R A Y F O R P E R F O R M I N G A S S A Y S

Carl W Merkh, James Defreese, Benton A Dur- ley assigned to Abbott Laboratories

A semi-automated biological sample analyzer and subsystems are provided to simultaneously perform a plurality of enzyme immunoassays for human IgE class antibodies specific to a panel of preselected allergens in each of a plurality of bio- logical samples. A carousel is provided to posi- tion and hold a plurality of reaction cartridges. Each reaction cartridge includes a plurality of isolated test sites formed in a two dimensional array in a solid phase binding layer contained within a reaction well which is adapted to con- tain a biological sample to be assayed. The carousel and cartridges contain structures which cooperate to precisely position the cartridges in each of three separate dimensions so that each cartridge is positioned uniformly. An optical reader operating on a principle of diffuse reflec- tance is provided to read the results of the assays from each test site of each cartridge. Also pro- vided is a subsystem which provides

590 PATENT ABSTRACTS

predetermined lot-specific assay calibration data which is useful for normalizing the results of various assays with respect to predetermined common standard values.

5281697

C E A - B I N D I N G P R O T E I N A N D U S E S T H E R E O F

5281661

C O M P L E X C O N T A I N I N G C O A G U L A T I O N F A C T O R IX

Yendra Linnau, Maria Sazgary, Vienna, Austria assigned to Immuno Aktiengesellschaft

Factor IX is selectively adsorbed by means of hydrophobic chromatography from an aqueous mixture containing at least one plasma zymogen or a vitamin-K dependent protein in addition to factor IX. By this method, the efficient enrich- ment of factor IX for the production of pharma- ceutical preparations has become possible.

Carol Toth, Pete Thomas, Sibusisiwe M Maswoswe, Joseph Briggman assigned to Applied Biotechnology Inc; New England Deacons Hospital Co

Disclosed is a protein that specifically binds car- cinoembryonic actigen (CEA) in the presence of divalent cation in vitro. This protein has a molecular weight of about 20 kD as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, is glycosylated, and includes the amino acid sequence set forth in the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NO:4. Also disclosed are antibodies that recognize the CEA binding protein, methods of detecting carcinoma, methods of treating car- cinoma, and a kit for screening a patient for car- cinoma.