Ciba-Geigy Corporation

Chiron Diagnostics Corporation

Harry Towbin

Julian Gordon

Theophil Staehelin

Se-Kyung Oh

Richard Hawkes

Evelyn Niday

A method of inhibiting proteolytic degradation of a thermally-stable intracellular protein is described. The method involves adding 1 or more denaturing agents to a sample which contains the protease and the protein of interest and heating the resulting solution at a temperature and for period of time sufficient to denature the protease. The method optionally includes a step for lysing the cell if the protein of interest is contained in a cell in order to release said protein. Additionally, a method of determining Mx protein induced by interferon in a blood sample is described. The method involves adding to a blood sample a lysing agent, a denaturing agent, and a detergent selected to solubilize Mx protein. The sample containing Mx protein is then heated at a temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. for a period of time of from about 1 minute to about 30 minutes, and the Mx protein in the solution then is determined. Also described is a solution including a synthetic matrix mimicking whole blood cell lysates, or actual whole blood cell lysates, to which a known concentration of a thermally-stable intracellular protein is added to prepare a control material. In addition, a solution free of a protease that degrades the intracellular protein is disclosed, such solution remaining stable at 4.degree. C. for at least three weeks.

Inhibition of protease activity of human whole blood cell lysates

New devices and kits for solid-phase immuno-assays comprising a solid porous support, preferably in the form of a sheet, where antigens or immuno-globulins or both of them are bound by direct application in any suitable geometry, e.g. as an assay of dots or lines. Such porous supports are suitable for effecting an unlimited number of antibody-antigen reactions simultaneously and in one operation.

Devices and kits for immunological analysis

Electrophoretically transferring electropherograms to nitrocellulose

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Allschwil, Switzerland

Harry Towbin