Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ 7324 ~
Reference is made to application Serial No. 289,221 filed October
21, 1977, in the name of Richard A. Harte, entitled "Fluorometric System, Met-
hod and Test Article".
There are many techniques available for the detection of an unknown
quantity of a biologically derived sample (e.g., serum or urine). During
such techniques, a labelled substance which has reacted with the sample
must be separated from the unreacted labelled substances which includes free
and non-specifically bound substance. This separation in liquid form is
~cn~nl to be inefficient, unreliable, and tedious. Many solutions have been
10 proposed to solve this problem by the use of diagnostic reagents coated on
a solid surface which combine with the labelled substance. -
In one technique, reagents are coated upon plastic test tubes by
physical adsorption of antibodies specific to the sample substance to be test- - '
ed. See, e.g., articles by Catt et al in the Journal of Biochemistry, 1966
Vol. 100, page 31c and in Science, Vol. 158, page 1570, 1967. This techni-
que is difficult to control because of the non-uniformity of the plastic sur-
face and imprecision in the coating technique. Furthermore, during washing
to remove unreacted labelled substance, a relatively weak physical coating
bond holding the antibodies can be disrupted resulting in their loss along
20 with reacted labelled substance. Also, this technique requires a separate
procedure for the coating of each test tube. This would be particularly
time consuming, especially to insure reproducibility, if covalent attachment
were employed to prevent the loss of diagnostic reagent. In addition, such
test tube coating does not lend itself to the precise viewing required in a
so~id front surfaee fluorometric system. Furthermore, use of a test tube
restricts covalent attachment to the material of construction used in making
the tube.
Another solid surface approach is set forth in Bratu, Jr., et al
United States patent 3,826,619. This system employs a physically adsorbed
30 diagnostic reagent coated on the tip of a holder. This tip is first fitted
into a receptacle for the sample and then into a receptacle for the labelled
substance. This system is subject to inaccuracies because of losses in rub-
--1--
,3~" ' '
--` 1087324
bing of the unprotected tipagainst the close fitting receptacle. Also,
there is no ability to stir the tip in the receptacle leading to long in-
cubation periods. Additionally, this technique does not lend itself to
reproducible mass production as each ho~lder must be individually coated
with diagnostic reagent. Furthermore, it is undesirable for precise viewing.
It is a particular object of the invention to provide a holder
of the foregoing type which is adapted for precise positioning in a viewing ;~'
housing of a detection system.
It is another object of the invention to provide a holder of the
foregoing type in which diagnostic reagent is attached to a film and there-
after placed on the holder to facilitate mass production.
It is another object of the invention to provide a viewing housing
particularly adapted for precisely positioning the diagnostic reagent
holder.
In accordance with the present invention, a diagnostic reagent
holder is provided which is suitable for use in the labelled determination
of an unkown quantity of a biologically derived sample. The holder has
front and rear sides and comprises an elongate shaft and mounting means
adjacent one end of said shaft, self-supporting film firmly mounted by the
mounting means exposed toward the front side, a diagnostic reagent coating
affixed to said film, and protective means disposed externally adjacent the
periphery of the film a sufficient distance to protect the film from abra-
sion.
Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent
from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in con-
junction with the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the viewing housing
of the present invention illustrating a diagnostic reagent holder and cuvette
above their respective slots;
Figure 2 is a top view partially broken away of the holder of
Figure l;
--2--
.. .
`` 1087324
Figure 3 is an expanded cross-sectional view of a portion of the
diagnostic reagent holder of Figure 1 taken along line 3-3;
Figure 4 is a front view of a lower portion of another diagnostic
reagent holder; and
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the holder of Figure 4 taken
along line 5-5.
Referring to the embodiments of Figures 1 and 3, a diagnostic
reagent holder 10 is provided with a convenient handle 11 at one end and
mounting means comprising support surface 12 toward the other end inter-
connected by an elongate shaft 13. Support surface 12 is on the front or
viewing side of the holder. As illustrated, handle 11 is formed in an
enlarged rectangular shape of sufficient dimension transverse to shaft 13
for gripping either manually or by mechanical means. This permits con-
venient stirring of a liquid with the holder and provides support for a
sample identification label. Other handle shapes may be employed for this
purpose~ Elongate shaft 13 servés to provide spacing between handle 11 and
support surface 12 so that the holder may be stirred by gripping handle 11
above a solution while support surface 12 is in the solution. It facilitates -~
rapid separation of solid and liquid phases. It also permits precise
2Q positioning of support surface 12 in a viewing housing as illustrated in
Figure 1 with the support surface positioned deeply within the housing to
shield it from ambient light. The holder may be formed of any material
relatively inert to the reactants such as moldable plastics.
A self-supporting film comprising disc 16 is firmly adhered to the
front side of support surface 12 by a suitable adhesive material or plastic
welding process. A diagnostic reagent is carried by disc 16, preferably by
covalent attachment, as described in detail hereinafter. Support surface 12
and disc 16 are preferably of a circular shape to facilitate adhesion of
the disc to the
.~.
` - 10873Z~ (-
support surface without angular alignment.
Pro~rusion means comprising protective rim 14
surrounds a substantial portion of the periphery of support ; ;
surface 12 and thus disc 16. In the illustrated embodiment
rim 14 extends around the entire periphery of the disc.
Rim 14 projects a sufficient distance outwardly from
the exposed surface of disc 16 normal to the support
surface to protect the disc from loss of material bound
thereto ~y abrasion. Other suitable protrusion means
include a discontinuous rim with spaced elements or a
number of circumferentially spaced points. Such protrusion
means also includes the inner wall of a flat front
surface of the holder which surrounds a recessed su~port
surface. ~he outer surface of said protrusion means lies
15 ' in a plane parallel to the face of disc 16 so that it
may engage a cooperating surface of a housing of an optical
instrument to precisely position dïsc 16 in the optical
path.
A beveled edge 17 is provided on the lower end ~ -of the rear side of the holder to facilitate movement
past a resiliently mounted projection for alignment
in a slot of a viewing housing or the like.
A projection 18 is provided suitably also on the
rear side of the holder opposite the center of the
support surface to assist registry thereof with a
corresponding housing recess. In another alternative
embodiment, the holder may be beveled parallel to the
shaft to register with a corresponding projection on the
slot.
A pivot extension comprising pointed projection 15
,
. ' - 4 - ~
~. .
.. . . .
~087324
extends from the holder at the film end or bottom to
form a resting point. During stirring, the holder rests
on point 15 in a liquid vessel, e.g., test tube, to
facilitate circulation of fluid around the bottom.
Disc 16 bears a diagnostic reagent capable of
reacting with a sample substance. For example, if the
sample substance is an antigen, the diagnostic reagent
may be an antibody specifically reactive with the
an~igen. Thus, the diagnostic reagent comprises one
of a pair or more of reactive substances. The holder
typically is employed in the testing of body fluids,
such as serum, urine or other fluids, to ascertain the
presence of pathogens or their toxins or to ascert~;n ~ -
concentrations of other substances in the fluid. The
diagnostic reagent is a material which selectively ~ -
or sterically fits with the mating sample substance. ~-
Sample substances include drugs of abuse, such as morphine,
methadone, cocaine, and barbiturates; drugs used for
the control of certain chronic diseases or conditions
such as digoxin (cardiac disorders), insulin (digitalis),
and diphenylhydantoin (epilepsy); hormones such as `
thyroxine and triiodothyroxine; steroid hormones such
as aldosterone, cortisol, testosterone, estriol and
progesterone; peptide and protein hormones such as
adrenocorticotropin, angiotensin, gastrin, chorionic
gonadotropin~, follicle stimulating hormone, growth
hormone, luteinizing hormone, neurophysin, placental
lactogen, and thyroid stimulating hormones, vitamins
such as cyanocobalamin and folic acid; enzymes such as
chymotrypsin, creatine phosphokinase, alkaline
_ S _ ~
. _ . .
10~37324
phosphatase, and lactic dehydrogenase; antigens such as
carcinoembyonic antigen, hepatitis associated antigen and
alpha fetoprotein; antibodies such as anti-toxoplasmosis
antibody, anti-thyroid antibodies and anti-nuclear antibodies;
cellular formed bodies such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa,
erthyocytes and leucocytes; serum proteins such as
fibrogens, anti-hemophilic factors, lipoproteins, immuno-
- globulins and thyroxine binding globulin; cellular
degradation products such as myoglobins, bacterial toxins,
and lyzozymal digests, etc. Other substances can be employ-
ed so lon~ as they are detectible or rendered so as by direct
labelling or through binding with labelled specific binding
proteins, substances, inhibitors, enzymes, antigens or
antibodies, and can be attached to a surface, either before
1~ or after they are directly or indirectly labelled. -~
Disc 16 is formed of an essentially non-swellable,
continuous, permeable material. As defined herein, an
impermeable film is one which will not permit the
passage o~ uid from one side to the other during the
present process. Although some penetration of liquid
occurs, it is preferable that the film be sufficiently
non-porous to prevent significant penetration. Use of
this type of disc facilitates rapid washing o~ the
surface after reaction with a labelled material to remo~e
the background noise of unreacted labelled material. In
contrast, permeable porous surfaces require extensive
washing. In a preferred embodiment, the diagnostic reagent
is covalently attached to the surface of disc 16. Thus,
disc 16 may comprise substrates such as a polyacrylic
polyamide, cellulosic or other-polymeric film depending
-- 6 --
1087324
upon the diagnostic reagent ~o be employed.
The structural strength of the holder required
during handling, especially stirring, is not required
for disc 16. Conversely, the chemical properties
desirable for disc 16, e.g., reactivity to form
covalent attachments with diagnostic reagent is not
necessary for holder 10. Thus, it is sometimes advantageous
to form the disc and holder of different materials.
, If disc 16 is formed of polymeric materials
which does not include within its matrix groups reactive `
with the diagnostic reagent, such reactive groups may
be couplèd thereto by known chemical reactions. Groups
of this type include amino groups, hydroxyl groups, ;
mercapto groups, amido groups, and carboxyl groups. -
Suitable attachment of diagnostic reagents to polymers
with such groups coupled to them are set forth in
Bennich et al U.S. patent 3,720,760.
Covalent attachment could be a time consuming
difficult-to-reproduce operation in mass production if
performed while disc 16 is secured to the support surface
12. It has been found desirable to first covalently
attach the diagnostic reagent to a large number of the
discs by agitating the same during reaction in a single
vessel followed by adherin~ a disc to the support surface
of each holder. It is important to note that handling
of the discs~ without protection by protective rim
14 and without the ability to freely move the same by
hoIder 10 is not a problem at this stage. Thus, abrasive
contact with such discs to remove some diagnostic
reagent would not result in inaccurate measurement
', ; ` ~
~ . ,
: ' `. ~` (
10873Z4
procedures in carefully controlled manufacturing
operations, The discs are placed on the support surface
prior to reaction with the labelled substance and sample
substanc~ as set forth hereinafter. This protects the
disc containing the sample and labelled substance from
occasional abrasive contact which could result in the
loss of signal detection and imprecision during
analytical manipulations.
~ For simplicity of description, a typical
fluorometrically labelled sandwich method will now be
described.
In a first step, the diagnostic reagent (e.g.,
antibody) is covalently at~ached to the disc in a manner
as set forth above. For mass production, it is
convenient to form the discs by punching from a sheet
of suitable material such as ~olyacrylic film. Then,
the discs are grafted with a spacer arm or coupling
reagent. A suitable reaction would include a large
nmmber of discs, e.g., 100 or more, in a stirred
reaction vessel. Thereafter, the discs containing
coupling reagents are reacted in a similar manner with
a suitable antibody and washed and allowed to dry. Such
discs are then secured to the support surface 12 as
with a pressure sensitive adhesion.
- In the following step, the holder is gripped
by the handle to place the diagnostic reagent bearing
disc into a solution of a fluid containing sample
substance reactive with the diagnostic reagent, e.g.,
antigen. If present, the antigen reacts and combines with
3~ the antibody on the surface during an incubation period.
~087324
It is advantageous to agitate the reactive substance
during incubation. This provides a significantly faster
reaction time. In addition, it has been found to
increase the reproducibility of the experimental results,
S especially in short incubation periods. Handle 11
provides a convenient means for mechanically
or manually stirring of the solution.
After incubation wi~h the sample serum containing
antigen, holder 10 is simply removed from the solution
and washed with a suitable solvent such as aqueous
phosphate buffer or distilled water.
In the following step, the labelled substance,
su.~ably antibody labelled with a fluorochrome, radioactive
substance, enzyme or phosphorescing su~stance, is
1~ contacted with disc 16 and incubated for a sufficient
time to complete reaction between the labelled antibody
and antigen. Again, it is advantageous to agitate the
solution during incubation to decrease the reaction
time and improve reproducibility of detection.
2a In the next step, the solution containing
unbound labelled antibody is simply separated from the
- solid surface containing bound labelled anti~ody.
Thereafter, the reacted solid surface is thoroughly
washed to remove residual and non-specifically bound
antibody which may remain on the disc. The efficiency
of this washing step is extremely important in obtaining
accurate results. Thus, the surface is thoroughly washed
with a suita~le rinsing solution such as aqueous
phosphate buffer or distilled water. This illustrates
the advantage of forming a firm covalent attachment of
I
~0Y~7324
the diagnostic reagent with the disc to prevent its
loss with labelled antibody bound to it during this
step.
After washing, the holder 10 is transportea
to a detection system for quantitative measurement.
In a particularly advantageous system, the label i6 a .
fluorochrome and the detection system is a fluorometric
sy6tem o~ the type set forth in application Serial
~o. 289,221, in the name of Richard A. Harte, entitled
"Fluorometric System, Method and Test Article", filed
October 21, 1977.
A description follows of a viewing housing
suitable for incorporation in the above fluorometric
system or other detection systems and which is particularly
adapted ~or precisely positioning of the above diagnostic
reagent ~older for optical detection.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a viewing housing
20 is illustrated which is particularly adapted for
receiving diagnostic reagent holder 10 for viewing
in a fluorometric system of the foregoing type. Viewing
housing 20 includes front wall 21, top wall 22 and
side walls 23 and 2~. Housing 20 is slidably mounted
onto an L-shaped base member 26 which, in turn, is
mounted in a stationary position in a detection asse~bly.
In the illustrated embodiment, housing 20 is provided ~
with a longitudinal slot 27 extending parallel to front `t
wall 21 along the entire length o~ the housing. Parallel
detents 28 extending along the length of wall 27 are
providedt~ mate with accommodating parallel grooves 29
.. - . . . .. -. -: ..
` ~ 10~373Z4 ~ .
in base 26. The cooperating detents and grooves form track
means for sliding horizontal movement of the viewing
housing.
Means are providing for limiting lateral movement
along the track means to define at least two precise
predetermined lateral index positions. Such means
comprises pairs of ball spring type set screws 35 mounted
on the rear side of the housing projection into slot
27. Screws 35 register with detents in the slot at
such index positions. ~airs of spring mounted screws
visible at the left side of the housing and also disposed
at the right side are in registry with slot 27 to define
a lateral path for the hous ng to ride upon. A station
selector handle 25 is provided to facilitate movement
of housing 20 between the different lateral stations
along track means.
In the illustrated embodiment, the housing
includes at least two viewing slots, one for viewing
holder-10 and another for viewing a cuvette. In a
fluorometric system, the viewing housing could be
Iaterally moved so that the excitation and detector are
rigidly mounted and housing 20-is moved into registry
with the viewing slots. ~ third slot, not shown,
may be included for viewing `another holder with a zero
2S or standard reading.
Means defining a slot 31 is provided with an
upper opening through top wall 22. The lower end of slot
31 is in registry with an opening through front wall
21 forming a window 32 into the slot. Stop means is
provided for limiting penetration of the reagent holder
~Oi 37324
.
a predetermined distance along slot 31. In the
illustrated embodiment, such stop means comprises ,~
the rounded lower portion 31a of slot 31. A scrap dxain
opening 33 communicating with the interior of slot
31 and projecting out of the housing is provided
to prevent build-up of scraps which might accumulate
after long-termuuse. In a fluorometric system as
'illustrated in Figure 2, light from a source travels
along path A and contacts the disc on the support
surface through window 32 and the emitted light is
received along path B by a fluorescence detector. ~ -
Setting means is provided to urge the reagent
holder against a surfa,ce of slot 31 to provide a precise
positioning of support surface 12 in the viewing
housing when the holder'contacts the stop means. In the
illustrated embodiment, the setting means comprises
a resiliently mounted projection in the form of spring
mounted set screws 34 which projects toward front wall 21.
Set screw 34 registers with projection 18 at the rear
of holder 11 to precisely position support surface
12 in a predetermined fixed position adiacent window 32
with holder 10 in a viewing position.
Means defining a cuvette slot 36 is provided
with an opening in front wall 21. Slot 36 is laterally
spaced from slot 31 and includes a cuvette opening 36a
of expanded area in comparison to the remainder of the
slot. In the illustrated embodiment, the cuvette slot
is of a square cross-section and is aligned in
a 45~ angle to front ~all 21. Referring to Figure 2,
when viewing housing 20 is employed in a fluoro~etric
- 12 -
10873Z4
`:
system, excitation light is supplied along path A
and is reflected along path B for detection at a
90 angle. The foregoing alignment facilitates this
spacial relation. Stop means comprising stop pin 37
is provided for cuvette slot 36 to position to cuvette
at a precise elevation. Alternatively, front surface
fluorescence at other angles including 90 could also
be measured using the system described in the aforementioned
~arte patent application.
A fluid cuvette 38 of square cross-sectional
area and transparent side walls fits precisely into
cuvette slot 36. A top 39 is provided with an
inlet tube 40 and an outlet tube 41 so that
different diagnostic samples~can be flowed into
1~ and out of the cuvette while it is in position.
Means is pro~ided for sliding a light trap plate
to cover whichever slot is not in use. Such means
comprises a recess in top wall 22 together with
parallel dive tail slots 45 at each end of the
recess. A light trap plate 42 is slidably received in the
recess and includes a pin 42a to facilitate movement -
and stop pins 43 to define the extent of movement.
In operation of the diagnostic holder portion
of the viewing housing, holder 10 is inserted into slot
31 until disc 16 is precisely positioned adjacent
window 32 by means of set screws 34 registering with
pro~ection 18 in the back of support surface 12. In the
fluorometric system, excitation light travels along
path A to excite fluorescence on the fluorescent
labelled disc that is receïved along path B to find
- 13 -
.
`` ` 10~7324
'
a suitable fluorometer detector in which the intensity
of emission is measured. Alternatively, the
above housing could be employed in other types of
detection system such as radioimmunoassay using a
geiger counter, or in a spectrophotometer. If it is
desired to analyze a fluid in cuvette 38, housing
20 is moved along its track laterally to align the
cuvette with the detector.
The lower portion of another embodiment of the
present diagnostic reagrnt holder is illustrated in
Figures 4 and 5. Holder 46 includes a shaEt 47 connected
- to mounting means comprising annular rim 48 with an
internal retaining groove 49 extending the entire
distance around the inner surface 50 of the rim. A
self-supporting film 51 bearing diagnostic reagent
is secured into retaining groove 49. By forming
disc 51 of a flexible film, the larger diameter disc
may be flexed to slide into registry with groove 49.
Rim 48 also serves to protect disc 51 from abrasion.
A recess 52 is provided on the bac~ side of shaft 48 to
assist registry with a cooperating set screw 34 of
housing slot 31. Other recesses to assist registry
include grooves in the holder adjacent the film and -
parallel to the shaft which align with corresponding
projections in the sides of the viewing housing slot,
e.g., of wedge shape. The remainder of holder 46
and the method of using it are the same as described
with respect to holder 10.
`In order to more clearly disclose the nature of
the present invention, specific examples of the practice
~ 14
10~7324
of the invention are hereinafter given. It should be
understood, ~owever, that this is done by way of example
and is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention.
Example 1
(1) Forming Covalent Bridges
Acrylic discs, 1/4 inch in diameter, were
punched from 6-mil thick polyacrylic acid film. The
discs were uniformly grafted with an amine bridge using
a carbodiimide catalyzed nucleophile substitution
reaction. A typical reaction was carried out with
stirring for two hours at room temperature using the
following proportion of reactants:
100 discs
10 ml. of pH 6.0 sodium phosphate 0.1 M buffer
0.1 g. of 3,3'-Iminobispropylamine
0.05 g. of 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholineoethyl)
-carbodiimide metho-p-toluenesulfonate
Af ter washing the discs, the amine bridge so
formed was lengthened further by reaction with succinic
~nhydride, one end of which formed an amide linkage with
the amine, the other end hydrolyzing to a carboxylic
acid group on which protein can be immobilized. A
typical reaction was carried out with stirring for thirty
minutes at room temperature using the following
proportion of reactants:
100 discs
10 ml. of distilled water maintained at pH 6.0 -
7.0 by dropwise addition of lON. sodium
~ hydroxide
0.1 g. of succinic anhydride added slowly over
a twenty minute period
` ` 10~73Z4
(2) Covalent Attachment of Diagnostic Reagent
After washing, the grafted discs were again
reacted in a carbodiimide catalyzed reaction, this time
with an antiserum. A typical reaction, under the same
conditions as above, was carried out using the following
proportion of reactants:
100 discs
10 ml. of pH 6.0 sodium phosphate O.lM buffer
O.05 ml. of anti-human immunoglobulin G goat
serum
o . 05 g. of 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholineoethyl)
-carbodiimide metho-p-toluenesulfonate
(3) Securin~ to Holder
After washing, the antibody containing discs
were allowed to air dry at room temperature. Each of the
support surfaces of diagnostic reagent holders of a
type described herein were coated with one drop of an
acrylic emulsion and allowed to dry to form a pressure
sensitive adhesive. The discs were attached to said
surfaces by careful placement followed by a gentle
pressure on the disc topsides to secure them to the
holders for use in subsequent assays.
(4) Reaction with Sample Substance
Then one disc-containing reagent holder was
inserted into a tube containing 0.5 ml. of a pH 7.4 sodium
phosphate 0.01 M buffer solution including 1.0~1. of
human serum,~ and agitated gently at room temperature for
30 minutes. The reagent holder was then removed and
washed with buffer solution.
(5) Reaction with Labelled Substance
After washing, the reagent holder was inserted
- 16 -
1087324 ~ ':
into another tube containing~0.5 ml. of a pH 7.4 sodium
phosphate 0.01 M buffer solution including 5.0 ~1. of a
commercial solution of fluorescein isothiocyanate
conjugated goat immunoglobulin G deri~ed from anti-human
immunoglobulin G goat serum, and agitated gently
by mechanical stirring at room temperature for 30 minutes.
The reagent was then removed and washed with buffer
solution.
- (6) Measurement in Fluorometer
; 10 After washing, the reagent was placed into the
fluorometer holder and its fluorescent signal determined.
By comparison with fluorescent signals from known
standard concentrations obtained similarly, as tabulated
below, the sample concentration was found by interpolatlon
to be 23 ~g/ml. Correcting for its dilution (1;500), the
original sample contained 11.5 mg~ml. of immunoglobulin
G.
Immunoglobulin G Fluorescent
Concentration Signal
in Step 4 in Step 6
~g/ml. Arbitrary Units
blank 50
1.1 72
28 5 357
56.9 763
sample 321
Example 2 , -
` This example illustrates the importance of precise
repeatable positioning of the diagnostic reagent holder
with respect to the fluorometer.
Discs of 6-mil thicknes- were moonted on the
_ 17 -
- : , ~ :. . . :
~C~873Z4
support surface of the reagent holders as set forth in
Example 1. The elevation of the discs were varied by
increasing the thickness of the adhesive layer separating
the underside of the disc from the support surface. The
different discs were placed in the viewing housing of a
type descri~ed abo~e. The optical system of the fluorometer
was focused to give a maximum signal at a 0.003-inch
separation. As this separation increased, fluorescent
^ signal decreased as shown in the following series of
measurements.
Approximate Fluorescent Signal,
Separation _ % of Maximum
Distance,
inches Series 1 Series 2
1~` 0.003 ~ 100 10
O. 010 - 99
0.017 95 92
0.024 79 77
- 18 -
