Claims
- 1. A method of stabilizing the antigenicity of hepatitis Be antigen, HBeAg, over time, comprising the steps of:
- a. adsorbing anti-HBeAg antibodies to a solid support to form a coated solid support;
- b. diluting previously denatured HBeAg into a non-denaturing solution;
- c. capturing the HBeAg on said anti-HBeAg antibody coated support to form a second coating;
- d. insolubilizing said captured HBeAg; and
- e. storing the captured and insolubilized HBeAg at temperatures up to 37.degree. C. in low humidity conditions.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stabilized HBeAg is stored in low humidity conditions for at least 7 days.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stabilized HBeAg is stored in low humidity conditions for at least 21 days.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the stabilized HBeAg is stored in low humidity conditions for at least 9 months.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid support is a microtiter well.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the HBeAg is made by recombinant DNA means.
- 7. A method of assaying a biological sample for anti-HBe antibodies, comprising the steps of:
- a. contacting the biological sample with HBeAg stabilized according to claim 1, for a time sufficient to permit binding of anti-HBe antibodies to the immobilized HBeAg; and
- b. detecting the anti-HBe antibodies bound to said stabilized HBeAg.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said solid support is a microtiter well.
- 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said detecting step further comprises detecting the competitive inhibition of binding of anti-HBe antibodies from the sample by labelled anti-HBe.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said labelled anti-HBe antibodies are anti-HBe antibodies conjugated to an enzyme or a component of an enzymatic reaction.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said enzyme is horseradish peroxidase.
- 12. A kit for detecting anti-HBe antibodies comprising HBeAg which has been stabilized according to claim 1, contained in a sealed container, and labelled anti-HBe antibodies.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part continuation of application U.S. Ser. No. 08/035,560, filed Mar. 22, 1993, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/808,842, filed Dec. 16, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/476,747, filed Feb. 7, 1990, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/307,900, filed Feb. 6, 1989, now abandoned, the entire specification of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Continuations (2)
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Date |
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Parent |
35560 |
Mar 1993 |
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Parent |
808842 |
Dec 1991 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Date |
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476747 |
Feb 1990 |
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Parent |
307900 |
Feb 1989 |
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