Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Ali Naqui

James P Mapes

Liane F Gossett

A method for immoassay includes a membrane coated with a capture antibody and starch. A solution suspected of containing an antigen is passed through the membrane. Antigen binds to the capture antibody. A conjugate of a detection antibody and lactoperoxidase is passed through the membrane to form a sandwich on the membrane. A substrate composition including peroxide and iodide is passed through. The lactoperoxidase catalyzes oxidation of iodide by the peroxide to give iodine which reacts with the starch to give a blue color. The invention includes a kit of materials for performing the assay of the invention.

Method for immunoassay using lactoperoxidase, starch and iodine

Diagnosis of Lyme disease by immunoassay for anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in the serum of a patient includes adsorption of crossreactive antibodies in the serum with antigen of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus or Treponema phagedensis prior to binding of anti-Borrelia antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi antigen absorbed onto a solid support. The preferred assay is a flow-through assay using a porous membrane as the support and a dye-loaded liposome conjugated to a goat antihuman antibody for detection. The invention includes a kit of materials for performing the assay.

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Sparks, MD, United States of America

Ali Naqui