Euroimmun Medizinische Labordiagnostika Ag

Universitât Bern

Thomas Scheper

Winfried Stöcker

Martin Rateike

Wolfgang Schlumberger

Erik Lattwein

Christian Feirer

Wolfgang Meyer

Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit

Robert Kaffka

Dennis Tappe

Antje Euken

Julia Janz

Anthonina Ott

Mathias Haefke

Arne Brech

Winfried STÖCKER

Linda Schönfeld

Markus Spiliotis

Bruno Gottstein

Jannike Dibbern

Monique Goerl

Dieter SCHRÖDER

The invention relates to a device and a method for automated evaluation of incubated immunoblot strips (). What is essential for such immunoblot strips () is that these have regions coated with antigens, which regions discolour under the formation of so-called bands () as soon as a binding occurs, in particular between the antigen and an antibody present in a patient sample. Within the scope of the described technical solution, a camera () is initially used to make recordings of the surface of an incubated immunoblot strip () and these recordings are transmitted in digitized form to an evaluation unit (). Finally, the discolourings, which occurred in the form of bands (), are detected and at least partly quantified in the evaluation unit (), such that a diagnosis suggestion is generated taking into account the number of bands () and the colour strength thereof. The described technical solution is distinguished by virtue of the camera () being used in each case to make at least two recordings at different times and/or under different recording conditions.

Method for automated evaluation of incubated immunoblot strips

A method for diagnosing a limbic encephalitis, PNS, encephaloymyelitis, leukoencephalopathy, retinitis or optic atrophy, includes detecting a bornavirus in a sample, preferably from the group comprising mammalian 2 bornavirus, even more preferably VSBV-1, and mammalian 1 bornavirus, even more preferably BoDV-1; to a carrier containing a means for the capture of an antibody against at least one polypeptide selected from the group of BoDV-1-N, BoDV-1-P, VSBV-N and VSBV-P. A kit contains the carrier and a means for the detection of a captured antibody and a control for the detection of the presence of a sample. The carrier or kit or of a primer can be used for the detection of a bornavirus or a probe can be used for the diagnosis of an encephalitis, for the prognostication of post-transplantation complications, for the monitoring of a therapy of an encephalitis or of post-transplantation complications or for the differentiation between an autoimmune encephalitis and an encephalitis caused by infection.

Method for the diagnosis of bornavirus infection

A device for incubating an immunoblot strip () includes at least one incubation channel () into which an elongate immunoblot strip () having at least one biological material on its front is inserted with its back facing a channel base (). An agitating means (), with which the immunoblot strip () is agitatable around a transverse axis () of the strip () at least at times during incubation via an agitating device (). For handling and/or grouping incubation channels () with immunoblot strips () inserted, a rack () for taking up at least two incubation channels () is provided. The rack () is in operative connection with said agitating means () via load transmission points.

Testkit for laboratory diagnostics

Growing community of inventors

Berkenthin, Germany

Thomas Scheper