Heska Corporation

Janet S Andrews

Wayne Arthur Jensen

Thomas L McDonald

Annika Weber

Shirley Wu Hunter

Karen Sverlow

The present invention provides a method for the detection of early renal disease in animals. The method includes the steps of (a) obtaining a sample from an animal to be tested and (b) determining the amount of albumin in the sample. An amount of albumin in the range of from 10 &#x3bc;g/ml to about 300 &#x3bc;g/ml indicates the presence of early renal disease. The present invention also provides antibodies to canine, feline and equine albumin which can be used to detect the presence of early renal disease.

Methods of detecting early renal disease in animals

The present invention provides isolated monoclonal antibodies that selectively bind albumin from animals. Also provided are methods using such antibodies for the detection of early renal disease in animals. The method includes the steps of (a) obtaining a sample from an animal to be tested; (b) contacting the sample with an antibody having a greater avidity for feline albumin than for other proteins or components in the sample; (c) detecting the complex formed by the antibody and albumin; and (d) determining the amount of albumin in the sample from the amount of antibody-albumin complex detected. An amount of albumin in the range of from 10 &#x3bc;g/ml to about 300 &#x3bc;g/ml indicates the presence of early renal disease.

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Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Janet S Andrews