Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Barbara E Hasz

John A Walling

Hsiang-Yun Y Hu

Disclosed is a substantially optically pure hapten, useful in an immunoassay for cotinine. The hapten corresponds to a specified structural formula (I). In formula (I) X is a straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated, divalent radical covalently bonded to a pyridyl ring at the number 2-, 4-, 5- or 6-position. The divalent radical, X, has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein the chain of the divalent radical optionally may contain 1 or 2 hetero atoms selected from members of the group consisting of S, O and NZ in which Z represents a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkyl group. In formula (I), n=1 or 0, and Q is a functional group selected from --COOH, --NH.sub.2 (provided that n does not equal 0), --C(O)NHNH.sub.2, --O(CO)Cl, --CHO, --NCS or --NCO. Also disclosed is an immunogen derived from the hapten as well as an antibody raised in response to an immunogen derived from the hapten. Also disclosed is a fluorescent tracer derived from a substantially optically pure compound corresponding to the hapten, the tracer being useful in an immunoassay for cotinine. Also disclosed is an improved immunoassay for determining cotinine in a biological sample involving a step of contacting the sample with antibodies raised in response to the immunogen. Also disclosed is a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) for determining cotinine involving a step of contacting the sample with antibodies raised in response to the immunogen, and/or involving a step of contacting the sample with a fluorescent tracer.

Growing community of inventors

Park Ridge, IL, United States of America

Barbara E Hasz