Claims
- 1. A device for assaying spermatozoa, comprising:a labeling zone containing at least one label which binds to the spermatozoa in their presence and through which spermatozoa can flow in communication with: a porous capture zone having a pore size such that all or substantially all of the label which is not bound to the spermatozoa can flow therethrough, whereas all or substantially all of the spermatozoa-bound label cannot.
- 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the label is a labeled antibody which can bind to the spermatozoa.
- 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the label is visible to the naked eye.
- 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the antibody is labeled with colloidal gold.
- 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the label is a stain.
- 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the capture zone is nitrocellulose.
- 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the labeling zone and capture zone are fored from a single piece of porous material which contains a region of reduce pore size.
- 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the capture zone includes a region of immobilized antibody which binds labels not bound to spermatozoa.
- 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the labeling zone and the capture zone have an interface which is narrow compared to the length of the capture zone.
- 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spermatozoa are human spermatozoa.
- 11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the label binds to CD59 on the spermatozoa.
- 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein flow of spermatozoa to the capture zone is assisted by at least one of a wick before the labeling zone and a wick after the capture zone.
- 13. A device according to claim 1, in the form of a test strip or dipstick.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9821526 |
Oct 1998 |
GB |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/GB99/03249, filed on Oct. 1, 1999, pending, which claims the benefit of British Patent Application No. 9821526.2 filed on Oct. 2, 1998.
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Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/GB99/03249 |
Oct 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/658148 |
|
US |