CA2142600A1 - Oral collection device and kit - Google Patents
Oral collection device and kitInfo
- Publication number
- CA2142600A1 CA2142600A1 CA002142600A CA2142600A CA2142600A1 CA 2142600 A1 CA2142600 A1 CA 2142600A1 CA 002142600 A CA002142600 A CA 002142600A CA 2142600 A CA2142600 A CA 2142600A CA 2142600 A1 CA2142600 A1 CA 2142600A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- test substance
- oral fluid
- assembly
- solid
- substance
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
- G01N33/5302—Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B10/00—Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
- A61B10/0045—Devices for taking samples of body liquids
- A61B10/0051—Devices for taking samples of body liquids for taking saliva or sputum samples
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
- B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
- B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
- G01N33/543—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor with an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals
- G01N33/54366—Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
- G01N33/569—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor for microorganisms, e.g. protozoa, bacteria, viruses
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
- G01N33/569—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor for microorganisms, e.g. protozoa, bacteria, viruses
- G01N33/56983—Viruses
- G01N33/56988—HIV or HTLV
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/68—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving proteins, peptides or amino acids
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/68—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving proteins, peptides or amino acids
- G01N33/6854—Immunoglobulins
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B10/00—Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
- A61B2010/0003—Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements including means for analysis by an unskilled person
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B10/00—Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
- A61B2010/0009—Testing for drug or alcohol abuse
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
- G01N1/10—Devices for withdrawing samples in the liquid or fluent state
- G01N1/14—Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices
- G01N2001/1472—Devices not actuated by pressure difference
- G01N2001/149—Capillaries; Sponges
Abstract
A device (8) for obtaining oral fluid containing substances for testing. In one embodiment, the device includes a syringe (12) having a plunger (11) at the end of which an absorbent pad (10) is attached. A test assembly containing the device (8) is also disclosed.
Description
21~2 60 0 ~'0 91/0~07X PCr/ US93/07597 ORAL COLLECTION DEVICE AND KIT
l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to devices and methods for obtaining oral fluid for testing.
l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to devices and methods for obtaining oral fluid for testing.
2. References Parry, J.V., et al., Lancet 2:72-75 (1987).
Thieme, T., et al., J. Clin. Micro~iol. ?0:1076-1079 (1992a).
Thieme, T., et al., "Oral Fluid Sampling forDetermination of HIV-I Antibody Serostatus," Abstract from VIII Int'l. Conf. on AIDS, pg. C328 (1992b).
.
Thieme, T., et al., J. Clin. Micro~iol. ?0:1076-1079 (1992a).
Thieme, T., et al., "Oral Fluid Sampling forDetermination of HIV-I Antibody Serostatus," Abstract from VIII Int'l. Conf. on AIDS, pg. C328 (1992b).
.
3. Back~round of the Invention A number of analytical procedures and device~
are co~monly used to test body fluids for the pres- :
ence of substances of diagnostic value. Blood and :
urine are the body fluids of choice. An advantage of .-blood as a test fluid is that analytes are often at relatively high concentrations, and measurements of these concentrations can often provide information about a patient'~ health. Urine is useful for diag-nostic testing when the blood component of interest (e.g., a low molecular weight drug or ho~mone) is concentrated during urine formation. T~owever, the urine concentration of an analyte does not usually reflect the physiologically active amount of the analyte in blood.
3 n Although saliva is not commonly used as a body fluid in medical diagnosis, numerous studies (Parry, et al.; Thieme, et- al., 1992 a,b) have demonstrated that saliva and other types of oral fluid can provide a reliable sample for diagnostic testing involving antibodies or antigens specific for various human or animal pathogens. Oral fluids have also been shown WO9~/0~07~ PCT/US93/07597' ,6~
to be useful in measuring the body levels of~natural-ly occurring hormones or therapeutic and other drugs.
One ad~antage of sampling oral fluid over sam-5 . pling blood and urine is the convenience of obtaining the sample~ A trained phlebotomist is not required, as is the case with blood, nor are special arrange-ments for privacy-in-collection and custody of the sample required, as is the case with urine. Further-more, collection of an oral fluid sample obviates thehazard of handling blood-contaminated needles and tubes.
Devices for the collection of oral fluid havP
been described. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,418,702 and 4,580,577 show an absorbent pad for absorbing oral fluid, and a barrel-piston arrangement for extracting the fluid from the pad.
U.S. Patent No. 4,774,962 describes an absorbent pad for absorbing saliva, and a centrifuge tube and tube-insert for removing oral fluid from he pad by centrifugation.
U.S. Patent 5,056,521 describes an apparatus for :~
use in monitoring gluco-~e in oral fluid. The appara-tus includes a barrel-piston arrangement having a nonreactive absorbent swab secured tc the piston.
The barrel and piston are used to s~leeze the fluid sample from the swab into a~glucose monitoring in-strument~ ~
30 4. SummarY of the Invention ~:
The present invention includes, in one aspect, a device for collecting oral fluid for diagnostic purposes, The device includes an absorbent pad for recovering a test substance from oral fluid, and a structure (means) for extracting from the pad oral 21~2,6 ~094/0~07X PCT/US93/07597 fluid that has been absorbed into the pad. More specifically, the structure for extracting absorbed -oral fluid from the pad includes a syringe having a barrel, and a plunger to which the pad is attached.
The absorbent pad may contain various additives, such as preservatives, salts, flavors, and blocking agents for preventing non-specific binding of oral fluid components to the pad. In one preferred em-bodiment, the pad is impregnated with the salts of a hypertoni~ solution, as described further below.
In another preferred embodiment, the syringe further includes a fluid passageway at the outlet end of the barrel, and detection reagent(s) contained in -;
the passageway, effective to be released into the 15 oral fluid when such is expelled from the barrel. ~`
The passageway may be defined by a cartridge that is detachably mounted on the barrel.
In a related aspect, the invention includes an assay assembly for use in assaying test substance in the oral fluid. The assembly includes the above-described pad-svringe structure, and a detection unit constructed for receiving oral fluid expelled there-from. The detection unit includes a solid-support, and a binding agent attached thereto, effective to bind specifically to a test substance in the oral fluid when the oral fluid is expelled from the barrel -~
.
into the unit. The detection unit may be attachab1e - to the outlet end of the syringe, or may be used as a separate fluid-receiving structure.
The assembly may further include a passageway that connects the barrel of the syringe in fluid communication with the detect~on unit. The passage-way may contain detection reagent(s) effective to be released into the oral f luid when such is expelled 35 from the barrel. Preferably, the detection reag-W094/0407~ PCT/US93/07597 ~`
21~2~0 ent(s) are effective to react with a test substance in the oral fluid to produce on the support, a de-tectable signal which is dependent on the concentra-tion of the test substance in the oral fluid.
In one preferred embodiment.of the assembly, the solid-support is a permeable membrane and the detec-tion unit further includes an absorbent material that can be brought into contact with the membrane, to draw fluid through the membrane support.
In one configuration, the test substance is an :
antibody that is diagnostic of infection by a known pathogen. The binding agent can be an antigen that is immunoreactive with the test antibody, in which -:
case the assembly may further include a reporter- ~-15 labeled reagent effective to bind to the test-sub- :~
stance antibody, when such is bound to the solid-support.
Alternatively, the binding agent can selectively :~
bind human antibodies, in which case the assembly may ~
20 further include a reporter-labele~ antigen that is ~-immunoreactive with the test-substance antibody. One ~`
exemplary binding agent for binding the test sub-stance antibody is protein A.
In another configuration, the test su~stance is 25 an antigen that is diagnostic of infection by a known `.
pathogen~ The binding agent can be an antibody that -.
is immunoreactive wi~h the test antigen, in which `
case, the assembly may further include a reporter- :
labeled reagent effective to bind to the test sub-stance antigen, with such bound to the solid-support.
In another aspect, the invention inclu~es a :
solid- support surface for simultaneous assay of both a test substance and a marker substance in an oral-fluid sample, i.e., a substance which gives a posi-tive indication that oral fluid is being tested. The -w094/0407x 2 1 ~ 2 6 0 0 PCT/US~3/07~97 first and second binding agents for binding the test substance and the marker substance, respectively, may be located on at least partially non-overlapping regions of the surface. Preferably the two binding S regions form the two bars of a "~" symbol.
These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description of the invention is -~
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
, Brief Description of the DEawinqs Figs. lA and lB are cross-sectional side views of an oral fluid collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown before 15 (Fig. lA) and after (Fig. lB) plunger engagement with ``
a barrel in the device; ~-Fig. 2 is an assemb~y view of the plunger and pad in the Fig. 1 device;
Fig. 3A and 3B show alternative cartridge and syringe barrel embodiments;
Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a test assembly according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a test assembly according to the present invention; and Fig. 6A-6C show exemplary solid-phase formats for detect~ng a test substance in o~al fluid in - accordance with the invention;
Fig. 7 shows a solid-support surface arrangement for simultaneously assaying a test substance and a marker substance in oral fluid.
WOg~/0407X PCT/US93/075g7 '~
~l4~6~
Detailed DescriPtion of the Inventio~
A. Oral Fluid Collection Device ~ igures lA and lB illustrate an oral fluid collection device 8 constructed according to the present invention. The device generally includes an absorbent pad 10, which functions as an oral-fluid collector, a plunger 11 to which the pad is attached, a syring~ barrel 12, and in the embodiment shown, a ~.
detachable reagent cartridge 13. Plunger 11 in- ~;
cludes a plunger stem 14, a sealing gasket 15 located on the inner end of the plunger, and a thumb tab 16 located on the outer end of the plunger.
Fig. 2 shows an assembly view of the plunger and pad~
The plunger stem conventionally includes a pair of radial enlargements 18, 20 adjacent its inner end, and terminates in a finger projection 22, as shown. ~.
The stem and thumb are preferably for~ed by injection ;~
molding of a suitable polymer, conventionally.
Gasket 15 is a soft rubber or flexible polymer 20 material designed to be received on the plunger, and .
held in position by enlargements 18, 20, as can be ~--- appreciated, with projection 22 extending through the -end of the gasket. The diameter of the gasket is such as to form a snug, liquid-tight seal with the interior wall of barrel 12.
Pad 10 is attached to the inner end of plung- -er ll by a conventional adhesive, su~.`h as the class of silicon rubber adhesives suitable for human oral use. The pad is attached to the stem at contacting surfaces which include the inner face of gasket 15, and the portion of projection 22 which is received within the pad, as can be appreciated from Fig. 2.
The pad c:an be made of any of a num~er of absor-bent materials suitable f or oral use . Pref erably, 35 the pad is a thick, absorbent cot:t9n roll or paper, W094/0~07X 2 1 ~ 2 ~ O O PCT/~JS93/07597 such as co~monly used in dental procedures. ~n example of such a pad is a 1.5 inch No. 2 medium cotton roll distri~uted by Patterson Dental Co.
(Minneapolis, MN). Materials such as cellulose, polyurethane, polyester, and rayon are also useful.
In one embodiment of the invention, the pad is impregnated with the salts of a hypertonic solution, in an amount effective to recover a high concentra-tion of test substance, such as immunoglobulin, in the oral fluid. As detailed in U.S. Patent 5,103,836, which is incorporated herein by re1Eerence, the use of a hypertonic 501ution results in a con-stant production of immunoglobulin from other sources within the oral cavity, those sources not being completely understood. By using a hypertonic solu-tion, it is possible to gain an increase of as much as 8-16 times for immunoglobulin than by using dis-tilled water.
A hypertonic solution is a salt solution which has an ionic strength exceeding that found in blood.
In general, salts used in the preparation of the hypertonic solution of the present invention are present in an amount of from about 1.5% to about 5%
by weight, preferably 3.5% by weight.
2S Salts which can be used in the preparation of the hypertonic solution include alkali metal com-pounds as well as alkaline earth metal compounds.
- Preferred salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride. Sodium chloride is found to be the least toxic, least expensive and most palatable.
The hypertonic solution can also include a compound or ingredient for stimulating salivation.
The compo D ds capable of stimulating salivation are found to exhibit a sour taste. These compounds W094/0~07~ 2 1 ~ PCT/V~93/07597~
include weak organic acids. Preferred amon~ the weak organic acids are citric acid, ascorbic acid and acetic acid. It is preferred to use citric acid and ascorbic acid at a concentration of between about 0.05% and 0.5% by weight. The prefPrable range for ace~ic acid is between about 0.5% and 3.0% by weight.
In order to minimize degradation in a collected specimen, the hypertonic solution can include a preservative. Such a preservative can act to inhibit proteolytic enzymatic activity which can be responsi-ble for the destruction of antibody molecules.
Compounds contemplated as a preservative include anti-bacterial agents, anti-fungal agents, bacterio-s atic agents, fungistatic agents, and enzyme inhibi-tors. In a preferred embodiment benæoic acid, sorbicacid or the salts thereof are used as anti-fungal agents. As bacteriostatic agents/ salts in high concentration and compounds capable of maintaining the hypertonic solution at low pH are contemplated.
Such salts include thimerosal ~or merthiolate), phenyl mercuric acetate, phenyl mercuric nitrate and sodium azide. Other preferred preservatives include preservatives which are typically used in medicines and mouthwashes. Examples include ethyl alcohol and chlorhexidine gluconate. Another class of preferred anti-microbial and anti-viral agen~s are detergents which can ~e used as topical germicides or in mouth-washes. An example is benzalkonium chloride. It is preferred to use these preservatives in a range of about 0.01% to about 0.2% by weight.
The pad can be impregnated with the hypertonic solution by known means. The hypertonic solution of the present invention can be applied to the pad by dipping the pad into the hypertonic solution so that the salts of the solution can be absor~ed into and W09~/~407X 2 1 4 2 6 0 0 PCT/US93J07597 `~
onto the pad, removing the pad from the solution and allowing the pad to dry. Typically, the pad is dipped into the hypertonic solution and about 1 ml of solution is absorbed. Alternatively, the hypertonic 5 solution could be sprayed onto the pad until a suffi- -cient amount, preferably about 1 ml is absorbed.
Excess liquid is shaken off and the pad is placed in a forced-air, convection drying oven at 50~C for 2 hours or, alternatively, in an oven at 80C for 6-12 hours in the absence of forced air. After dLrying, there will be formed a specially treated pad which comprises the salts of the hypertonic solution. It is preferred that as preservatives, salts such as benzalkonium chloride, acetyl pyridinium chloride or chlorhexidine gluconate be used in the preparation of the pad.
Most materials from which the pad can be made can non-specif ically bind protein. Thus, some im-munoglobulins can undesirably bind to the pad and it is desired to block proteins from bindins to the pad by using a blocking agent. ~on-specific binding is not normally a problem in the collection of blood samples since blood contains its own ~locking agent (i.e., human serum albumin).
To reduce non-specific binding :in the collection of oral specimens, a blocking agent can be added to the hypertonic solution to be incorporated into the pad. A blocking agent is generally a soluble protein which is used to prevent non-specific ~inding of another protein to a solid surface. Compounds which can be added as blocking agents include albumin and gelatin, but any water soluble, non-toxic protein can be used as a blocking agent as long as the protein does not adversely affect the assay being used. It is preferred to use bovine gelatin. In general, wo g~/o~ 42 6 0 PCT/US93/07597 `
blocking agents can be added to the hypertoni~ solu-tion of the present invention at a concentration of between about 0.01% and 0.2% by weight. The contents of the hypertonic solution are then incorporated into the pad as described above.
The preferred solution to be used in the prepa-ration of the pad has the following composition:
:' component ~ CODC . (Wt % ) ¦¦ ~
~ , sodium chloride 3.5%
citric acid 0.3%
. __ _._ sodium benzoate 0.1%
potassium sorbate 0.1%
. . . , . . , _ bovine gelatin 0.1%
distilled water addition of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide to increase Ph to about 6.5 . . . . - _ _ ..
With reference again to ~igs. lA and lB, syringe barrel 12 defines an inner wall 24 dimensioned len-gthwise to receive the pad and plunger gasket, as shown in Fig. 2A, and in diameter, to snugly receive gasket 15, to form a fluid-tight seal therewith. The barrel has a flanged or radially enlarged opening 26 which facilitate~ placement of the pad, after oral-fluid-collection, into the barrel. The opposite, inner end of the barrel is p~ovided with a frit 28 which acts as a fluid-permeable filter to allow passage of oral fluid absorbed in the pad to be expelled from the barrel, as the plungsr is forced into the barrel. An outlet port 30 at the end of the barrel provides a socket for receiving cartridge 13, In an embodiment of the device which does not include cartridge 13, the outlet end of the barrel may be tapered to a narrow outlet, as in standard syringe wO9~/os07~ 2 1 ~ 2 6 0 0 PCT/US93/07597 11 ,~
construction. The syringe is also referred to herein as means for extracting oral fluid that has been absorbed into the padO
Exemplary dimensions for the plunger-pad assem-bly and barrel according to the present invention are as follows. Plunger 11 is about 3 inches in length, including the length of sealing gasket 15, and about - 0.12 inches in diameter. Absorbent pad 10 is about 1.5 inches in length and 0.375 inchec in diameter.
If a soft rubber gasket is used, a gasket diameter of 0.5 inches and a length of about 0.25 inches is appropriate to form a liquid-tight seal in a syringe barrel having an inner diameter of about 0.4375 inches.
Cartridge 13 includes an annular plug 32 which fits snugly into the socket in the barrel, to hold the cartridge firmly in the barrel. An interior passageway 33 through the chamber is provided with a reagent disc 34 impregnated with detection reagent(s) which are released into the oral fluid, preferably as solute components, when oral fluid is expelled through the cartridge. The reagent(s) are for use in detecting selected analyte(s) in the oral fluid, as discussed below. In addition, the reagent(s) may include a blocking agent such as gelatin, milk ca-sein, or bovine serum albumin, suitable for use in certain types of'solid-phase assays, also as dis-- cussed below. In one embodiment, a xeporter-labeled antibody or antigen is dissolved at a concentration 'f of a few mgs/ml in an aqueous solution containing o.5% gelatin and 30% sucrose (to facilitate solubili-za~ion of protein when oral fluid passes through the cartridge). The reagent disk in the cartridge is sandwiched be~ween fluid-permeable frits 35 and 36 in the cartridge chamber.
W09~/0~07~ PCT/~!S93/07597 '~
21426~0 Additional embodiments for a cartridge and barrel are shown in Figs. 3A and 3B. For example, as shown in Fig. 3A, a barrel outlet 38 can be a male Luer~ fitting 39 for attaching a corresponding female fitting 40 in a cartridge 42. The cartridge includes a rigid frit 44 impregnated with detection reag-ent(s). A similar arrangement is shown in Fig. 3B
except that the male Luer~ fitting 46 of a baxrel outlet 48 is recessed in the body of the barrel.
Fig. 3B also shows a barrel configuration in which the interior wall of the barrel is tapered on pro-gressing toward its outlet end, to reduce the amount of oral fluid that remains in the barrel when the pad is compressed.
A strip 50 in the cartridge is a wetable reagent strip which, when wetted by oral fluids passing through the barrel, produces a detectable color change in the pr~sence of analyte in the oral fluids.
Analytes such as glucose can be detected using known enzymes, such as glucose oxidase csupled with a peroxidase system effective to produce a detectable color change in the presence f ~2- In each of the cartridge embodiment~ illustrated in Figs. 1-3, an interior chamber defines a passageway, such as the interior passageway 33 in cartridge 13~ which may contain detection reagent(s) or reagen~: means effec-tive to be released into the oral fluid when such is expelled from the barrel (Figs. 1 and 2), or effec-tive to mix with oral fluid passing through the 30 passageway (Fig. 3). .
Alternatively, the passageway containing the detection reagents may be contained in the outlet end of the barrel, e.g., along the side walls af a barrel outlet, avoiding the need for a separate cartridge.
W09~/0~7~ 2 1 4 2 ~ O ~ PCT/US93/07597 To collect a substance from the oral cavlty with a collection device such as that illustrated in Figs.
lA and lB, the plunger-pad assembly is placPd in the mouth of the patient such that the pad lies entirely within the mouth. Placement of the pad between the lower cheek and gums facilitates absorption of secre-tions originating from gingival lymphoid tissue as well as secretions from submucosal lymphoid tissue and salivary gland lymphoid tissue. It is preferable that the specimen be collected by rubbing the pad back and f orth between the gums f or about ten seconds and then holding the pad in position f or between about thirty seconds and two minutes. After the pad has been impregnated with oral fluid, the pad is withdrawn from thP mouth, and the plunger-pad assem-bly is placed in the syringe barrel pad-end-first so that oral fluid c~n be extra~ted from the pad.
The oral fluid can be stored for later analysis, preferably in a suitable preservation fluid. Alter- -20 natively, the oral fluid can be mixed with detection ~:
reagent(s) or expelled directly (without detection of reagents) or after mixing with detection reagents on a solid-phase detection device, as described in Section B below.
Alternatively, the reagent(~) introduced into the oral fluid may be designed for ass~ay of an oral-! .
fluid analyte by a solution-phase homogeneous assay.
The assay, for example used in detecting an antigen-specific antibody present in oral fluid, can be based on a variety of homogeneous assay formats, for exam-ple based on coupled enzymes, fluorescence quenching, or an EMIT configuration (Gosling, J., Clin Chem, 36(8):1408 (l990). Alternatively, the assay mAy involve immunoprecipitation of an analyte in the oral fluid, leading to a detectable agglutination product, W09~/0407~ 2 l 4 ~ 6 0 PCT/~S~3/07sg7t such as colored microspheres coated with an immuno-precipitin.
From the foregoing, ~t will be appreciated how various objects and features of. the inventivn are met. The devi~e is convenient-~for hospital, clinic, or even home use, allowing an`oral sample to be collected easily and immediately assayed. The device also reduces the risk of sample contacting the user, since the plunger-pad assembly can be inserted into the syringe barrel following collection of a sample, and can be disposed of, encased in the syringe bar-rel.
B. Oral Fluid Assay Assembly In another aspect, the invention includes an assembly for detecting a test substance in oral fluid. The assembly generally includes an absorbent-pad syringe device of the type described above, and a detection unit adapted to receive oral fluid expelled from the absorbent pad. The detection unit has a solid-support contained within the detection unit, and a binding agent attached to the solid-support effective to bind specifically to a test substance in the oral fluid when the oral fluid is expelled from the barrel into the unit. The concentration of analyte, e.g., antigen or immunoglobulin, in the oral fluid is then determined by the amoullt of analyte bound to the support. In one embo~liment, the assembly includes a passageway, such as described in section A above, that contains de~ection reagent(s) (a) e~fective to be released when oral fluid is expelled from the syringe, and (b) includes one or more reagent c~mponents needed to produce a detect-able solid-phase binding reaction involving analyte binding to the solid-phase surface.
w094/0407~ 2 1 4 2 6 0 0 PCT/US93/07~97 The choice of assay format depends on tfie nature of the test substance of inkerest. Such test su~-stances include a variety of immunoreactive analytes, such as drugs or drug metabolites, fox example, ;
cocaine or nicotine or metabolites thereof, viral and bacterial antigens, such as hepatitis B surface antigens, immunoglobulins, particularly IgG and IgM, and hormones, such as ~-HCG. Methods for adsorking or covalently attaching a selected binding agent to the solid support are well known, and include adsorp-tion of biotinylated proteins, such as ovalbumin, to the membrane, with subsequent attachment of the binding agent, in streptavidin-derivatized form, attachment of antibodies to the support through antibodies specific, e.g., against the Fc portion of the antibodies to be bound, and covalent attachment to surface-derivatizable groups on the membrane, using for ~xample, a ~ariety of avai~able bifunc-tional coupling reagents.
Two embodime~t~ of an assay assembly according to the present invention are shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
In both figures, the lower portion of a syringe collecting device 52, including a s~ringe 54 and a cartridge 56, are shown. The collecting device has the sam construction as that described in Section A
above. In the Fig. 4 embodiment, the detection unit, indicated at 60, is attachable to th~ cartridge for - receiving oral fluid expelled from the cartridge.
The cartridge may contain detection reagent(s), such as reporter-labeled molecules, which are effective to compete with analyte molecules for binding to the solid support.
Unit 60 generally includes a housing 62 having an inlet port 63 which is attachable to, and in fluid communication with, the outlet side of the cartridge, WO9~/0407X PCT/~'S93/07597 ~14260 as shown. Supported within the housing is a ~olid-phase support, or membrane 64 which is positioned to receive oral fluid expelled from the syringe device.
An absorbent pad 66 is suspended bPlow membrane 64 in an accordion-like structure 68 to draw oral fluid through ~he membrane, when the pad is brought into contact with the lower side of the membrane.
Fig. 5 shows a detection unit 70 having a mem-brane 72 which can be viewed through a window 74, both supported in a casing 75. An absorbent pad 76 located below the membrane can be brought into con-tact with the underside of the membrane, to draw fluid through the membrane, by deformi.ng the ~ottom of the casing.
Although the detection units in the assembly embodiments shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are attachable to a syringe device, for receiving oral fluid directly from the syringe, the invention also contemplates an assembly in which the detection unit is a separate structure, designed to receive oral fluid, e.g., by application of oral fluid and other detection re-agents to the membrane in the unit.
A variety of assay configurations which may be employed in the assembly are illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B, and 6C. In Fig. 6A, a test substance 80 ~an anti~ody), is captured on a solid-support 82 by immunospecificibindin~ to a support-bound antigein 84.
The captured analyte can in turn be detected by a reporter-labeled anti-human antibody 86.
Fig. 6B shows a solid-phase support 88 for detecting a test antibody 9O. The analyte antibody is bound to the solid-phase membrane by a ~inding agent 92, such as protein A or an anti-human immuno-globulin, which is carried on the solid suppo~t. -8Ound analyte antibody can be detected by a reporter-~I~2600 w094/0~07x PCTI~S93/07597 labeled antigen 94 that is immunoreactive wi~h thetest antibody.
Fig. 6C shows a solid-support 9~ for use in detecting an antigen analyte 98 in the oral flui~.
The binding agent in the unit is an antigen-specific antibody 100. Antigen-analyte bound to the support can be detected with a detection reagent which in-cludes a reporter-labeled antibody which is immunore-active with a second epitopic site on the analyte.
Alternatively, the detection reagent may be a report-er-labeled antigen which competes with the analyte antigen for binding to the solid support binding agent.
Conveniently, the reporter in the above detec-tion reagents is an enzyme, detectable by addition of a suitable substrate, or a fluorescent reporter. ~-An assay for a test substance in oral fluid can include a simultaneous a say for a marker substance, as described further below. In a typical assay for an oral fluid sample using the solid-support surface of the present invention, the te~t substance is an antibody that is immunoreactive with an HIV-1 pep-tide, and the marker substance is transferrin. The solid-support surface includes protein A attached to a firs region of the membrane surfacQ, for binding human an~ibodies, and an anti-transferrin antibody attached to a second region of the me~mbrane surfàce~, effective to capture transferrin. To detect the HIV-1 antibody and transferrin, the assay includes a horseradish peroxidase conjugate of the HIV-1 peptide for which the test HIV-l antibody is specific, and a horseradish peroxidase conjugate of an anti-trans-ferrin antibody that can bind transferrin irrespec-tive of whether the first anti-transferrin antibody 3~ has also bound to the same transferrin molecule.
W094/04078 PCT/US93/07~97 (-21~2600 Preferably, the second anti-transferrin antibody is from chicken, since chicken antibodies do not bind to protein A. The reporter-labeled reagents may he impregnated in dried form ~h a reagent disk which is then placed in a reagent cartridge. The cartxidge is then attached to an oral fluid collection device according to the present invention. An oral fluid sample is collected from a patient using the device, and the oral fluid is expressed from the syringe barrel and through the reagent cartridge attached thereto. The reporter-labeled reagents are taken up by and dissolved into the oral fluid as the fluid passes through the cartridge, allowing reaction of the reagents with the respective test and marker sub-stances. The outlet of the cartridge is directed sothat the reagent/oral fluid mixture is dispensed onto the solid-support surface. A few drops (-300 ~1~ of the mixture should be sufficient. The mixture is allowed to remain on the solid-support surface for a time (-5 minutes) sufficient to allow the test sub-stance and the marker substance to ~ind to the re-- spective detection reagents as w~ll as to the respec-tive binding regions on the solid-support surface.
The mixture is then removed from the surface.
25In another embodiment, the test substance is a ~elicobacter pylori antibody, and the reporter-la-, ; j beled reagent is a reporter-labeled ~licobacter - pylori antigen.
If the solid-support surface is part o~ a detec- -~
tion unit according to the assay assembly of the present invention described above, the mixture can be removed by contacting an absorbent pad with the underside of the solid-support to draw the fluid therethrough. Finally, a solution containing hydro-gen peroxide and a chromogenic substrate ttetrameth-2 1 4 2 6 0 0 PCT/~S93/07597 ylbenzidene, in this example) of horseradish peroxi-dase is dispensed onto the membrane. Any horseradish peroxidase bound to the solid-support via a test substance or marker substance produces a colored precipitate on the region to which the peroxidase has become bound. The presence of the marker substance and/or test substance is then determined from the pattern that is produced on the solid-support sur-face.
In one particular aspect of the present inven-tion, an oral fluid sample is simultaneously assayed for a marker substance that is alway~ present in oral fluid, in order to validate the result of the assay for the test substance. Detection of such a marker :;
15 substance in the sample provides a positive indica- ~.
tion that the sample contains oral fluid. Suitable marker substances include transferrin, albumin, ceruloplasmin, and amylase, for example (see '~Human Saliva: Clinical Chemistry and Nicrobiology, Vols. I
and II, Tenovuo, J.O., Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (1989)). Marker substances that derive from blood ( e . g ., albumin and transferrin) are particular-ly useful when the test substance is also blood-derived ( e . g ~, IgG) .
Preferably, both the test substanc~e and the marker substance are assayed using an assay assembly wherein the ~olid-support includes a flat surface.
Preferably, the solid-support is a microporous mem-brane which can be made of materials such as nitro-cellulose or polyvinylidena difluoride, for example.
The first and second binding agents for the test substance and the marker subs~-ance, respectively, are located on at least partially different (non-overlap-ping) regions of the surface so that binding of the test and marker substances to the solid-support W09~/04078 PCT/US93/075g7"
2l426 surface can be distinguished. Methods for binding such binding reagents, both by covalent as well as non-cov~lent means, are well kno-~n in the art.
Prefer~bly, the regions are configured to give rise to recognizable patterns tha~ upon viewing can readi-ly convey the result of the assay.
Although the preceding example descrihes the use of horseradish peroxidase as the reporter, it should be readily appreciated that other enzymes as well as non-enzyme reporters could be used. Moreover, al ~hough using identical reporters is convenient, the reporter used to detect the test ~ubstance need not be the same as that used to detect the marker sub-stance. In addition, other binding formats can be utilized. For example, in an assay for hepatitis B
surface antigen in oral fluid, the binding agent on the solid-support can be a ~irst ant:ibody immun~-reactive with the antigen, and the detection re~gent can be a reporter-labeled second antibody.
One exemplary solid-support surface pattern for conveying the result of the assay is shown in Figure 7. Bar-shaped regions 104 and 106 in the figure are regions of a solid support 108 which are derivatized or otherwise treated with binding agents which, re pectively, are immunospecific or otherwise reac-tive with a select d oral-fluid marker, such as transferrin, and a selected oral-fluid analyte, such - as an antigen-specific analyte. ~s shown, the two regions are arranged to form a "+" symbol. As can be appreciated, color development in the marker region 104, but not in the analyte region 106 will produce a "-" patter~, indicating that ~he sample fluid con-tains the oral-fluid marker, but not the analyte being tested. When such analyte is present, a "~"
symbol is observed.
W O 94/04078 2 1 ~ 2 6 0 0 P ~ /US~3/07597 Although the invention has been described with respect to particular em~odiments, it will be appre-ciated that various changes and modi~ications can be made without departing from the invention.
j
are co~monly used to test body fluids for the pres- :
ence of substances of diagnostic value. Blood and :
urine are the body fluids of choice. An advantage of .-blood as a test fluid is that analytes are often at relatively high concentrations, and measurements of these concentrations can often provide information about a patient'~ health. Urine is useful for diag-nostic testing when the blood component of interest (e.g., a low molecular weight drug or ho~mone) is concentrated during urine formation. T~owever, the urine concentration of an analyte does not usually reflect the physiologically active amount of the analyte in blood.
3 n Although saliva is not commonly used as a body fluid in medical diagnosis, numerous studies (Parry, et al.; Thieme, et- al., 1992 a,b) have demonstrated that saliva and other types of oral fluid can provide a reliable sample for diagnostic testing involving antibodies or antigens specific for various human or animal pathogens. Oral fluids have also been shown WO9~/0~07~ PCT/US93/07597' ,6~
to be useful in measuring the body levels of~natural-ly occurring hormones or therapeutic and other drugs.
One ad~antage of sampling oral fluid over sam-5 . pling blood and urine is the convenience of obtaining the sample~ A trained phlebotomist is not required, as is the case with blood, nor are special arrange-ments for privacy-in-collection and custody of the sample required, as is the case with urine. Further-more, collection of an oral fluid sample obviates thehazard of handling blood-contaminated needles and tubes.
Devices for the collection of oral fluid havP
been described. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,418,702 and 4,580,577 show an absorbent pad for absorbing oral fluid, and a barrel-piston arrangement for extracting the fluid from the pad.
U.S. Patent No. 4,774,962 describes an absorbent pad for absorbing saliva, and a centrifuge tube and tube-insert for removing oral fluid from he pad by centrifugation.
U.S. Patent 5,056,521 describes an apparatus for :~
use in monitoring gluco-~e in oral fluid. The appara-tus includes a barrel-piston arrangement having a nonreactive absorbent swab secured tc the piston.
The barrel and piston are used to s~leeze the fluid sample from the swab into a~glucose monitoring in-strument~ ~
30 4. SummarY of the Invention ~:
The present invention includes, in one aspect, a device for collecting oral fluid for diagnostic purposes, The device includes an absorbent pad for recovering a test substance from oral fluid, and a structure (means) for extracting from the pad oral 21~2,6 ~094/0~07X PCT/US93/07597 fluid that has been absorbed into the pad. More specifically, the structure for extracting absorbed -oral fluid from the pad includes a syringe having a barrel, and a plunger to which the pad is attached.
The absorbent pad may contain various additives, such as preservatives, salts, flavors, and blocking agents for preventing non-specific binding of oral fluid components to the pad. In one preferred em-bodiment, the pad is impregnated with the salts of a hypertoni~ solution, as described further below.
In another preferred embodiment, the syringe further includes a fluid passageway at the outlet end of the barrel, and detection reagent(s) contained in -;
the passageway, effective to be released into the 15 oral fluid when such is expelled from the barrel. ~`
The passageway may be defined by a cartridge that is detachably mounted on the barrel.
In a related aspect, the invention includes an assay assembly for use in assaying test substance in the oral fluid. The assembly includes the above-described pad-svringe structure, and a detection unit constructed for receiving oral fluid expelled there-from. The detection unit includes a solid-support, and a binding agent attached thereto, effective to bind specifically to a test substance in the oral fluid when the oral fluid is expelled from the barrel -~
.
into the unit. The detection unit may be attachab1e - to the outlet end of the syringe, or may be used as a separate fluid-receiving structure.
The assembly may further include a passageway that connects the barrel of the syringe in fluid communication with the detect~on unit. The passage-way may contain detection reagent(s) effective to be released into the oral f luid when such is expelled 35 from the barrel. Preferably, the detection reag-W094/0407~ PCT/US93/07597 ~`
21~2~0 ent(s) are effective to react with a test substance in the oral fluid to produce on the support, a de-tectable signal which is dependent on the concentra-tion of the test substance in the oral fluid.
In one preferred embodiment.of the assembly, the solid-support is a permeable membrane and the detec-tion unit further includes an absorbent material that can be brought into contact with the membrane, to draw fluid through the membrane support.
In one configuration, the test substance is an :
antibody that is diagnostic of infection by a known pathogen. The binding agent can be an antigen that is immunoreactive with the test antibody, in which -:
case the assembly may further include a reporter- ~-15 labeled reagent effective to bind to the test-sub- :~
stance antibody, when such is bound to the solid-support.
Alternatively, the binding agent can selectively :~
bind human antibodies, in which case the assembly may ~
20 further include a reporter-labele~ antigen that is ~-immunoreactive with the test-substance antibody. One ~`
exemplary binding agent for binding the test sub-stance antibody is protein A.
In another configuration, the test su~stance is 25 an antigen that is diagnostic of infection by a known `.
pathogen~ The binding agent can be an antibody that -.
is immunoreactive wi~h the test antigen, in which `
case, the assembly may further include a reporter- :
labeled reagent effective to bind to the test sub-stance antigen, with such bound to the solid-support.
In another aspect, the invention inclu~es a :
solid- support surface for simultaneous assay of both a test substance and a marker substance in an oral-fluid sample, i.e., a substance which gives a posi-tive indication that oral fluid is being tested. The -w094/0407x 2 1 ~ 2 6 0 0 PCT/US~3/07~97 first and second binding agents for binding the test substance and the marker substance, respectively, may be located on at least partially non-overlapping regions of the surface. Preferably the two binding S regions form the two bars of a "~" symbol.
These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description of the invention is -~
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
, Brief Description of the DEawinqs Figs. lA and lB are cross-sectional side views of an oral fluid collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown before 15 (Fig. lA) and after (Fig. lB) plunger engagement with ``
a barrel in the device; ~-Fig. 2 is an assemb~y view of the plunger and pad in the Fig. 1 device;
Fig. 3A and 3B show alternative cartridge and syringe barrel embodiments;
Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a test assembly according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a test assembly according to the present invention; and Fig. 6A-6C show exemplary solid-phase formats for detect~ng a test substance in o~al fluid in - accordance with the invention;
Fig. 7 shows a solid-support surface arrangement for simultaneously assaying a test substance and a marker substance in oral fluid.
WOg~/0407X PCT/US93/075g7 '~
~l4~6~
Detailed DescriPtion of the Inventio~
A. Oral Fluid Collection Device ~ igures lA and lB illustrate an oral fluid collection device 8 constructed according to the present invention. The device generally includes an absorbent pad 10, which functions as an oral-fluid collector, a plunger 11 to which the pad is attached, a syring~ barrel 12, and in the embodiment shown, a ~.
detachable reagent cartridge 13. Plunger 11 in- ~;
cludes a plunger stem 14, a sealing gasket 15 located on the inner end of the plunger, and a thumb tab 16 located on the outer end of the plunger.
Fig. 2 shows an assembly view of the plunger and pad~
The plunger stem conventionally includes a pair of radial enlargements 18, 20 adjacent its inner end, and terminates in a finger projection 22, as shown. ~.
The stem and thumb are preferably for~ed by injection ;~
molding of a suitable polymer, conventionally.
Gasket 15 is a soft rubber or flexible polymer 20 material designed to be received on the plunger, and .
held in position by enlargements 18, 20, as can be ~--- appreciated, with projection 22 extending through the -end of the gasket. The diameter of the gasket is such as to form a snug, liquid-tight seal with the interior wall of barrel 12.
Pad 10 is attached to the inner end of plung- -er ll by a conventional adhesive, su~.`h as the class of silicon rubber adhesives suitable for human oral use. The pad is attached to the stem at contacting surfaces which include the inner face of gasket 15, and the portion of projection 22 which is received within the pad, as can be appreciated from Fig. 2.
The pad c:an be made of any of a num~er of absor-bent materials suitable f or oral use . Pref erably, 35 the pad is a thick, absorbent cot:t9n roll or paper, W094/0~07X 2 1 ~ 2 ~ O O PCT/~JS93/07597 such as co~monly used in dental procedures. ~n example of such a pad is a 1.5 inch No. 2 medium cotton roll distri~uted by Patterson Dental Co.
(Minneapolis, MN). Materials such as cellulose, polyurethane, polyester, and rayon are also useful.
In one embodiment of the invention, the pad is impregnated with the salts of a hypertonic solution, in an amount effective to recover a high concentra-tion of test substance, such as immunoglobulin, in the oral fluid. As detailed in U.S. Patent 5,103,836, which is incorporated herein by re1Eerence, the use of a hypertonic 501ution results in a con-stant production of immunoglobulin from other sources within the oral cavity, those sources not being completely understood. By using a hypertonic solu-tion, it is possible to gain an increase of as much as 8-16 times for immunoglobulin than by using dis-tilled water.
A hypertonic solution is a salt solution which has an ionic strength exceeding that found in blood.
In general, salts used in the preparation of the hypertonic solution of the present invention are present in an amount of from about 1.5% to about 5%
by weight, preferably 3.5% by weight.
2S Salts which can be used in the preparation of the hypertonic solution include alkali metal com-pounds as well as alkaline earth metal compounds.
- Preferred salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride. Sodium chloride is found to be the least toxic, least expensive and most palatable.
The hypertonic solution can also include a compound or ingredient for stimulating salivation.
The compo D ds capable of stimulating salivation are found to exhibit a sour taste. These compounds W094/0~07~ 2 1 ~ PCT/V~93/07597~
include weak organic acids. Preferred amon~ the weak organic acids are citric acid, ascorbic acid and acetic acid. It is preferred to use citric acid and ascorbic acid at a concentration of between about 0.05% and 0.5% by weight. The prefPrable range for ace~ic acid is between about 0.5% and 3.0% by weight.
In order to minimize degradation in a collected specimen, the hypertonic solution can include a preservative. Such a preservative can act to inhibit proteolytic enzymatic activity which can be responsi-ble for the destruction of antibody molecules.
Compounds contemplated as a preservative include anti-bacterial agents, anti-fungal agents, bacterio-s atic agents, fungistatic agents, and enzyme inhibi-tors. In a preferred embodiment benæoic acid, sorbicacid or the salts thereof are used as anti-fungal agents. As bacteriostatic agents/ salts in high concentration and compounds capable of maintaining the hypertonic solution at low pH are contemplated.
Such salts include thimerosal ~or merthiolate), phenyl mercuric acetate, phenyl mercuric nitrate and sodium azide. Other preferred preservatives include preservatives which are typically used in medicines and mouthwashes. Examples include ethyl alcohol and chlorhexidine gluconate. Another class of preferred anti-microbial and anti-viral agen~s are detergents which can ~e used as topical germicides or in mouth-washes. An example is benzalkonium chloride. It is preferred to use these preservatives in a range of about 0.01% to about 0.2% by weight.
The pad can be impregnated with the hypertonic solution by known means. The hypertonic solution of the present invention can be applied to the pad by dipping the pad into the hypertonic solution so that the salts of the solution can be absor~ed into and W09~/~407X 2 1 4 2 6 0 0 PCT/US93J07597 `~
onto the pad, removing the pad from the solution and allowing the pad to dry. Typically, the pad is dipped into the hypertonic solution and about 1 ml of solution is absorbed. Alternatively, the hypertonic 5 solution could be sprayed onto the pad until a suffi- -cient amount, preferably about 1 ml is absorbed.
Excess liquid is shaken off and the pad is placed in a forced-air, convection drying oven at 50~C for 2 hours or, alternatively, in an oven at 80C for 6-12 hours in the absence of forced air. After dLrying, there will be formed a specially treated pad which comprises the salts of the hypertonic solution. It is preferred that as preservatives, salts such as benzalkonium chloride, acetyl pyridinium chloride or chlorhexidine gluconate be used in the preparation of the pad.
Most materials from which the pad can be made can non-specif ically bind protein. Thus, some im-munoglobulins can undesirably bind to the pad and it is desired to block proteins from bindins to the pad by using a blocking agent. ~on-specific binding is not normally a problem in the collection of blood samples since blood contains its own ~locking agent (i.e., human serum albumin).
To reduce non-specific binding :in the collection of oral specimens, a blocking agent can be added to the hypertonic solution to be incorporated into the pad. A blocking agent is generally a soluble protein which is used to prevent non-specific ~inding of another protein to a solid surface. Compounds which can be added as blocking agents include albumin and gelatin, but any water soluble, non-toxic protein can be used as a blocking agent as long as the protein does not adversely affect the assay being used. It is preferred to use bovine gelatin. In general, wo g~/o~ 42 6 0 PCT/US93/07597 `
blocking agents can be added to the hypertoni~ solu-tion of the present invention at a concentration of between about 0.01% and 0.2% by weight. The contents of the hypertonic solution are then incorporated into the pad as described above.
The preferred solution to be used in the prepa-ration of the pad has the following composition:
:' component ~ CODC . (Wt % ) ¦¦ ~
~ , sodium chloride 3.5%
citric acid 0.3%
. __ _._ sodium benzoate 0.1%
potassium sorbate 0.1%
. . . , . . , _ bovine gelatin 0.1%
distilled water addition of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide to increase Ph to about 6.5 . . . . - _ _ ..
With reference again to ~igs. lA and lB, syringe barrel 12 defines an inner wall 24 dimensioned len-gthwise to receive the pad and plunger gasket, as shown in Fig. 2A, and in diameter, to snugly receive gasket 15, to form a fluid-tight seal therewith. The barrel has a flanged or radially enlarged opening 26 which facilitate~ placement of the pad, after oral-fluid-collection, into the barrel. The opposite, inner end of the barrel is p~ovided with a frit 28 which acts as a fluid-permeable filter to allow passage of oral fluid absorbed in the pad to be expelled from the barrel, as the plungsr is forced into the barrel. An outlet port 30 at the end of the barrel provides a socket for receiving cartridge 13, In an embodiment of the device which does not include cartridge 13, the outlet end of the barrel may be tapered to a narrow outlet, as in standard syringe wO9~/os07~ 2 1 ~ 2 6 0 0 PCT/US93/07597 11 ,~
construction. The syringe is also referred to herein as means for extracting oral fluid that has been absorbed into the padO
Exemplary dimensions for the plunger-pad assem-bly and barrel according to the present invention are as follows. Plunger 11 is about 3 inches in length, including the length of sealing gasket 15, and about - 0.12 inches in diameter. Absorbent pad 10 is about 1.5 inches in length and 0.375 inchec in diameter.
If a soft rubber gasket is used, a gasket diameter of 0.5 inches and a length of about 0.25 inches is appropriate to form a liquid-tight seal in a syringe barrel having an inner diameter of about 0.4375 inches.
Cartridge 13 includes an annular plug 32 which fits snugly into the socket in the barrel, to hold the cartridge firmly in the barrel. An interior passageway 33 through the chamber is provided with a reagent disc 34 impregnated with detection reagent(s) which are released into the oral fluid, preferably as solute components, when oral fluid is expelled through the cartridge. The reagent(s) are for use in detecting selected analyte(s) in the oral fluid, as discussed below. In addition, the reagent(s) may include a blocking agent such as gelatin, milk ca-sein, or bovine serum albumin, suitable for use in certain types of'solid-phase assays, also as dis-- cussed below. In one embodiment, a xeporter-labeled antibody or antigen is dissolved at a concentration 'f of a few mgs/ml in an aqueous solution containing o.5% gelatin and 30% sucrose (to facilitate solubili-za~ion of protein when oral fluid passes through the cartridge). The reagent disk in the cartridge is sandwiched be~ween fluid-permeable frits 35 and 36 in the cartridge chamber.
W09~/0~07~ PCT/~!S93/07597 '~
21426~0 Additional embodiments for a cartridge and barrel are shown in Figs. 3A and 3B. For example, as shown in Fig. 3A, a barrel outlet 38 can be a male Luer~ fitting 39 for attaching a corresponding female fitting 40 in a cartridge 42. The cartridge includes a rigid frit 44 impregnated with detection reag-ent(s). A similar arrangement is shown in Fig. 3B
except that the male Luer~ fitting 46 of a baxrel outlet 48 is recessed in the body of the barrel.
Fig. 3B also shows a barrel configuration in which the interior wall of the barrel is tapered on pro-gressing toward its outlet end, to reduce the amount of oral fluid that remains in the barrel when the pad is compressed.
A strip 50 in the cartridge is a wetable reagent strip which, when wetted by oral fluids passing through the barrel, produces a detectable color change in the pr~sence of analyte in the oral fluids.
Analytes such as glucose can be detected using known enzymes, such as glucose oxidase csupled with a peroxidase system effective to produce a detectable color change in the presence f ~2- In each of the cartridge embodiment~ illustrated in Figs. 1-3, an interior chamber defines a passageway, such as the interior passageway 33 in cartridge 13~ which may contain detection reagent(s) or reagen~: means effec-tive to be released into the oral fluid when such is expelled from the barrel (Figs. 1 and 2), or effec-tive to mix with oral fluid passing through the 30 passageway (Fig. 3). .
Alternatively, the passageway containing the detection reagents may be contained in the outlet end of the barrel, e.g., along the side walls af a barrel outlet, avoiding the need for a separate cartridge.
W09~/0~7~ 2 1 4 2 ~ O ~ PCT/US93/07597 To collect a substance from the oral cavlty with a collection device such as that illustrated in Figs.
lA and lB, the plunger-pad assembly is placPd in the mouth of the patient such that the pad lies entirely within the mouth. Placement of the pad between the lower cheek and gums facilitates absorption of secre-tions originating from gingival lymphoid tissue as well as secretions from submucosal lymphoid tissue and salivary gland lymphoid tissue. It is preferable that the specimen be collected by rubbing the pad back and f orth between the gums f or about ten seconds and then holding the pad in position f or between about thirty seconds and two minutes. After the pad has been impregnated with oral fluid, the pad is withdrawn from thP mouth, and the plunger-pad assem-bly is placed in the syringe barrel pad-end-first so that oral fluid c~n be extra~ted from the pad.
The oral fluid can be stored for later analysis, preferably in a suitable preservation fluid. Alter- -20 natively, the oral fluid can be mixed with detection ~:
reagent(s) or expelled directly (without detection of reagents) or after mixing with detection reagents on a solid-phase detection device, as described in Section B below.
Alternatively, the reagent(~) introduced into the oral fluid may be designed for ass~ay of an oral-! .
fluid analyte by a solution-phase homogeneous assay.
The assay, for example used in detecting an antigen-specific antibody present in oral fluid, can be based on a variety of homogeneous assay formats, for exam-ple based on coupled enzymes, fluorescence quenching, or an EMIT configuration (Gosling, J., Clin Chem, 36(8):1408 (l990). Alternatively, the assay mAy involve immunoprecipitation of an analyte in the oral fluid, leading to a detectable agglutination product, W09~/0407~ 2 l 4 ~ 6 0 PCT/~S~3/07sg7t such as colored microspheres coated with an immuno-precipitin.
From the foregoing, ~t will be appreciated how various objects and features of. the inventivn are met. The devi~e is convenient-~for hospital, clinic, or even home use, allowing an`oral sample to be collected easily and immediately assayed. The device also reduces the risk of sample contacting the user, since the plunger-pad assembly can be inserted into the syringe barrel following collection of a sample, and can be disposed of, encased in the syringe bar-rel.
B. Oral Fluid Assay Assembly In another aspect, the invention includes an assembly for detecting a test substance in oral fluid. The assembly generally includes an absorbent-pad syringe device of the type described above, and a detection unit adapted to receive oral fluid expelled from the absorbent pad. The detection unit has a solid-support contained within the detection unit, and a binding agent attached to the solid-support effective to bind specifically to a test substance in the oral fluid when the oral fluid is expelled from the barrel into the unit. The concentration of analyte, e.g., antigen or immunoglobulin, in the oral fluid is then determined by the amoullt of analyte bound to the support. In one embo~liment, the assembly includes a passageway, such as described in section A above, that contains de~ection reagent(s) (a) e~fective to be released when oral fluid is expelled from the syringe, and (b) includes one or more reagent c~mponents needed to produce a detect-able solid-phase binding reaction involving analyte binding to the solid-phase surface.
w094/0407~ 2 1 4 2 6 0 0 PCT/US93/07~97 The choice of assay format depends on tfie nature of the test substance of inkerest. Such test su~-stances include a variety of immunoreactive analytes, such as drugs or drug metabolites, fox example, ;
cocaine or nicotine or metabolites thereof, viral and bacterial antigens, such as hepatitis B surface antigens, immunoglobulins, particularly IgG and IgM, and hormones, such as ~-HCG. Methods for adsorking or covalently attaching a selected binding agent to the solid support are well known, and include adsorp-tion of biotinylated proteins, such as ovalbumin, to the membrane, with subsequent attachment of the binding agent, in streptavidin-derivatized form, attachment of antibodies to the support through antibodies specific, e.g., against the Fc portion of the antibodies to be bound, and covalent attachment to surface-derivatizable groups on the membrane, using for ~xample, a ~ariety of avai~able bifunc-tional coupling reagents.
Two embodime~t~ of an assay assembly according to the present invention are shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
In both figures, the lower portion of a syringe collecting device 52, including a s~ringe 54 and a cartridge 56, are shown. The collecting device has the sam construction as that described in Section A
above. In the Fig. 4 embodiment, the detection unit, indicated at 60, is attachable to th~ cartridge for - receiving oral fluid expelled from the cartridge.
The cartridge may contain detection reagent(s), such as reporter-labeled molecules, which are effective to compete with analyte molecules for binding to the solid support.
Unit 60 generally includes a housing 62 having an inlet port 63 which is attachable to, and in fluid communication with, the outlet side of the cartridge, WO9~/0407X PCT/~'S93/07597 ~14260 as shown. Supported within the housing is a ~olid-phase support, or membrane 64 which is positioned to receive oral fluid expelled from the syringe device.
An absorbent pad 66 is suspended bPlow membrane 64 in an accordion-like structure 68 to draw oral fluid through ~he membrane, when the pad is brought into contact with the lower side of the membrane.
Fig. 5 shows a detection unit 70 having a mem-brane 72 which can be viewed through a window 74, both supported in a casing 75. An absorbent pad 76 located below the membrane can be brought into con-tact with the underside of the membrane, to draw fluid through the membrane, by deformi.ng the ~ottom of the casing.
Although the detection units in the assembly embodiments shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are attachable to a syringe device, for receiving oral fluid directly from the syringe, the invention also contemplates an assembly in which the detection unit is a separate structure, designed to receive oral fluid, e.g., by application of oral fluid and other detection re-agents to the membrane in the unit.
A variety of assay configurations which may be employed in the assembly are illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B, and 6C. In Fig. 6A, a test substance 80 ~an anti~ody), is captured on a solid-support 82 by immunospecificibindin~ to a support-bound antigein 84.
The captured analyte can in turn be detected by a reporter-labeled anti-human antibody 86.
Fig. 6B shows a solid-phase support 88 for detecting a test antibody 9O. The analyte antibody is bound to the solid-phase membrane by a ~inding agent 92, such as protein A or an anti-human immuno-globulin, which is carried on the solid suppo~t. -8Ound analyte antibody can be detected by a reporter-~I~2600 w094/0~07x PCTI~S93/07597 labeled antigen 94 that is immunoreactive wi~h thetest antibody.
Fig. 6C shows a solid-support 9~ for use in detecting an antigen analyte 98 in the oral flui~.
The binding agent in the unit is an antigen-specific antibody 100. Antigen-analyte bound to the support can be detected with a detection reagent which in-cludes a reporter-labeled antibody which is immunore-active with a second epitopic site on the analyte.
Alternatively, the detection reagent may be a report-er-labeled antigen which competes with the analyte antigen for binding to the solid support binding agent.
Conveniently, the reporter in the above detec-tion reagents is an enzyme, detectable by addition of a suitable substrate, or a fluorescent reporter. ~-An assay for a test substance in oral fluid can include a simultaneous a say for a marker substance, as described further below. In a typical assay for an oral fluid sample using the solid-support surface of the present invention, the te~t substance is an antibody that is immunoreactive with an HIV-1 pep-tide, and the marker substance is transferrin. The solid-support surface includes protein A attached to a firs region of the membrane surfacQ, for binding human an~ibodies, and an anti-transferrin antibody attached to a second region of the me~mbrane surfàce~, effective to capture transferrin. To detect the HIV-1 antibody and transferrin, the assay includes a horseradish peroxidase conjugate of the HIV-1 peptide for which the test HIV-l antibody is specific, and a horseradish peroxidase conjugate of an anti-trans-ferrin antibody that can bind transferrin irrespec-tive of whether the first anti-transferrin antibody 3~ has also bound to the same transferrin molecule.
W094/04078 PCT/US93/07~97 (-21~2600 Preferably, the second anti-transferrin antibody is from chicken, since chicken antibodies do not bind to protein A. The reporter-labeled reagents may he impregnated in dried form ~h a reagent disk which is then placed in a reagent cartridge. The cartxidge is then attached to an oral fluid collection device according to the present invention. An oral fluid sample is collected from a patient using the device, and the oral fluid is expressed from the syringe barrel and through the reagent cartridge attached thereto. The reporter-labeled reagents are taken up by and dissolved into the oral fluid as the fluid passes through the cartridge, allowing reaction of the reagents with the respective test and marker sub-stances. The outlet of the cartridge is directed sothat the reagent/oral fluid mixture is dispensed onto the solid-support surface. A few drops (-300 ~1~ of the mixture should be sufficient. The mixture is allowed to remain on the solid-support surface for a time (-5 minutes) sufficient to allow the test sub-stance and the marker substance to ~ind to the re-- spective detection reagents as w~ll as to the respec-tive binding regions on the solid-support surface.
The mixture is then removed from the surface.
25In another embodiment, the test substance is a ~elicobacter pylori antibody, and the reporter-la-, ; j beled reagent is a reporter-labeled ~licobacter - pylori antigen.
If the solid-support surface is part o~ a detec- -~
tion unit according to the assay assembly of the present invention described above, the mixture can be removed by contacting an absorbent pad with the underside of the solid-support to draw the fluid therethrough. Finally, a solution containing hydro-gen peroxide and a chromogenic substrate ttetrameth-2 1 4 2 6 0 0 PCT/~S93/07597 ylbenzidene, in this example) of horseradish peroxi-dase is dispensed onto the membrane. Any horseradish peroxidase bound to the solid-support via a test substance or marker substance produces a colored precipitate on the region to which the peroxidase has become bound. The presence of the marker substance and/or test substance is then determined from the pattern that is produced on the solid-support sur-face.
In one particular aspect of the present inven-tion, an oral fluid sample is simultaneously assayed for a marker substance that is alway~ present in oral fluid, in order to validate the result of the assay for the test substance. Detection of such a marker :;
15 substance in the sample provides a positive indica- ~.
tion that the sample contains oral fluid. Suitable marker substances include transferrin, albumin, ceruloplasmin, and amylase, for example (see '~Human Saliva: Clinical Chemistry and Nicrobiology, Vols. I
and II, Tenovuo, J.O., Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (1989)). Marker substances that derive from blood ( e . g ., albumin and transferrin) are particular-ly useful when the test substance is also blood-derived ( e . g ~, IgG) .
Preferably, both the test substanc~e and the marker substance are assayed using an assay assembly wherein the ~olid-support includes a flat surface.
Preferably, the solid-support is a microporous mem-brane which can be made of materials such as nitro-cellulose or polyvinylidena difluoride, for example.
The first and second binding agents for the test substance and the marker subs~-ance, respectively, are located on at least partially different (non-overlap-ping) regions of the surface so that binding of the test and marker substances to the solid-support W09~/04078 PCT/US93/075g7"
2l426 surface can be distinguished. Methods for binding such binding reagents, both by covalent as well as non-cov~lent means, are well kno-~n in the art.
Prefer~bly, the regions are configured to give rise to recognizable patterns tha~ upon viewing can readi-ly convey the result of the assay.
Although the preceding example descrihes the use of horseradish peroxidase as the reporter, it should be readily appreciated that other enzymes as well as non-enzyme reporters could be used. Moreover, al ~hough using identical reporters is convenient, the reporter used to detect the test ~ubstance need not be the same as that used to detect the marker sub-stance. In addition, other binding formats can be utilized. For example, in an assay for hepatitis B
surface antigen in oral fluid, the binding agent on the solid-support can be a ~irst ant:ibody immun~-reactive with the antigen, and the detection re~gent can be a reporter-labeled second antibody.
One exemplary solid-support surface pattern for conveying the result of the assay is shown in Figure 7. Bar-shaped regions 104 and 106 in the figure are regions of a solid support 108 which are derivatized or otherwise treated with binding agents which, re pectively, are immunospecific or otherwise reac-tive with a select d oral-fluid marker, such as transferrin, and a selected oral-fluid analyte, such - as an antigen-specific analyte. ~s shown, the two regions are arranged to form a "+" symbol. As can be appreciated, color development in the marker region 104, but not in the analyte region 106 will produce a "-" patter~, indicating that ~he sample fluid con-tains the oral-fluid marker, but not the analyte being tested. When such analyte is present, a "~"
symbol is observed.
W O 94/04078 2 1 ~ 2 6 0 0 P ~ /US~3/07597 Although the invention has been described with respect to particular em~odiments, it will be appre-ciated that various changes and modi~ications can be made without departing from the invention.
j
Claims (21)
1. A device for obtaining oral fluid that contains substances for testing comprising:
an absorbent pad for recovering a test substance from oral fluid;
means for extracting from the pad oral fluid that has been absorbed into the pad, wherein said means includes a syringe composed of a barrel, and a plunger having an inner end to which the absorbent pad is attached; and at the cutlet end of the barrel, a fluid passageway which contains detection reagent means effective to be released into the oral fluid when oral fluid is expelled from the barrel.
an absorbent pad for recovering a test substance from oral fluid;
means for extracting from the pad oral fluid that has been absorbed into the pad, wherein said means includes a syringe composed of a barrel, and a plunger having an inner end to which the absorbent pad is attached; and at the cutlet end of the barrel, a fluid passageway which contains detection reagent means effective to be released into the oral fluid when oral fluid is expelled from the barrel.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid passageway is defined by a cartridge that is detach-ably mounted on the barrel.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the detection reagent means along the side wall of the barrel outlet. is located
4. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the test substance is an antigen-specific antibody, and said detection reagent means includes an antigen effective to bind specifically to said antibody.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein said antigen is reporter-labeled.
6. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the test substance is a selected antigen, and said detection reagent means includes an antigen-specific antibody.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said antigen-specific antibody is reporter-labeled.
8. The device of claim 1, 2, or 3, which further includes a detection unit attachable to said passageway, wherein the detection unit is adapted to receive oral fluid expressed from the absorbent pad, said unit having (i) a solid-support and (ii) a binding agent attached to the solid-support, where the binding agent is effective to specifically bind to and immobilize a test substance in the oral fluid when the oral fluid is expelled from the barrel into the unit.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the test substance is an antibody that is diagnostic of infec-tion by a know pathogen, the binding agent is an antigen that is immunoreactive with such an antibody, and the assembly further includes a reporter-labeled reagent effective to bind to the test substance anti-body when the test substance antibody is bound to the solid-support.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said reporter-labeled reagent is located in said fluid passageway.
11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the test substance is an antibody that is diagnostic of infec-tion by a known pathogen, the binding agent is effec-tive to bind human antibodies, and the assembly further includes a reporter-labeled antigen that is immunoreactive with the test substance antibody.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said reporter-labeled antigen is located in said fluid passageway.
13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the binding agent is protein A.
14. The assembly of claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the test substance is an HIV-1 antibody, and the reporter-labeled reagent is a reporter-labeled HIV-1 peptide.
15. The assembly of claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the test substance is a Helicobacter pylori antibody, and the reporter-labeled reagent is a reporter-labeled Helicobacter pylori antigen.
16. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said passageway is defined by a cartridge that is detach-ably connected to said barrel and detection unit.
17. The assembly of claim 8 or 16, wherein the detection reagent means includes a reagent effective to react with a test substance in the oral fluid to produce a level of binding of the substance to the solid-support which is dependent on the concentration of the test substance in the oral fluid.
18. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the solid-support is a permeable membrane and the detection unit further includes an adsorbent material that can be brought into contact with the membrane.
19. The assembly of claim 8, for assaying simultaneously for a test substance and a marker substance in an oral fluid sample, wherein the solid-support is a membrane comprising:
a first region to which is attached a first binding agent effective to bind specifically to a test substance in oral fluid;
a second region to which is attached a second binding agent effective to bind specifically to a marker substance in such oral fluid, the second region being at least partially non-overlapping with the first region;
means for visualizing test substance bound to said first region; and means for visualizing marker substance bound to said second region;
whereby oral fluid containing the marker sub-stance and not the test substance gives rise to a pattern on the solid-support surface that is distin-guishable from a pattern that appears for oral fluid containing both the marker substance and the test substance.
a first region to which is attached a first binding agent effective to bind specifically to a test substance in oral fluid;
a second region to which is attached a second binding agent effective to bind specifically to a marker substance in such oral fluid, the second region being at least partially non-overlapping with the first region;
means for visualizing test substance bound to said first region; and means for visualizing marker substance bound to said second region;
whereby oral fluid containing the marker sub-stance and not the test substance gives rise to a pattern on the solid-support surface that is distin-guishable from a pattern that appears for oral fluid containing both the marker substance and the test substance.
20. A solid-support surface for use in simulta-neously assaying for a test substance and a marker substance in oral fluid comprising:
a first region to which is attached a first binding agent effective to bind specifically to a test substance in oral fluid;
a second region to which is attached a second binding agent effective to bind specifically to a marker substance in such oral fluid, the second region being at least partially non-overlapping with the first region;
means for visualizing test substance bound to said first region; and means for visualizing marker substance bound to said second region;
whereby oral fluid containing the marker sub-stance and not the test substance gives rise to a pattern on the solid-support surface that is distin-guishable from a pattern that appears for oral fluid containing both the marker substance and the test substance.
a first region to which is attached a first binding agent effective to bind specifically to a test substance in oral fluid;
a second region to which is attached a second binding agent effective to bind specifically to a marker substance in such oral fluid, the second region being at least partially non-overlapping with the first region;
means for visualizing test substance bound to said first region; and means for visualizing marker substance bound to said second region;
whereby oral fluid containing the marker sub-stance and not the test substance gives rise to a pattern on the solid-support surface that is distin-guishable from a pattern that appears for oral fluid containing both the marker substance and the test substance.
21. The solid-support surface of claim 22, wherein said first and second regions are bar-shaped and overlap to form a "+" symbol.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/935,845 | 1992-08-25 | ||
| US07/935,845 US5339829A (en) | 1989-09-21 | 1992-08-25 | Oral collection device |
| US08/099,926 US5479937A (en) | 1989-09-21 | 1993-08-03 | Oral collection device |
| US08/099,926 | 1993-08-03 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2142600A1 true CA2142600A1 (en) | 1994-03-03 |
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ID=26796636
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002142600A Abandoned CA2142600A1 (en) | 1992-08-25 | 1993-08-13 | Oral collection device and kit |
Country Status (12)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (3) | US5479937A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0656763B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH08502670A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE175333T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU672823B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9306979A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2142600A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69322969D1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI950767A (en) |
| HU (1) | HUT72565A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO950681L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994004078A1 (en) |
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1993
- 1993-08-03 US US08/099,926 patent/US5479937A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-08-13 AU AU50084/93A patent/AU672823B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1993-08-13 BR BR9306979A patent/BR9306979A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1993-08-13 DE DE69322969T patent/DE69322969D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-08-13 AT AT93920010T patent/ATE175333T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1993-08-13 HU HU9500583A patent/HUT72565A/en unknown
- 1993-08-13 WO PCT/US1993/007597 patent/WO1994004078A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1993-08-13 EP EP93920010A patent/EP0656763B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-08-13 CA CA002142600A patent/CA2142600A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-08-13 JP JP6506409A patent/JPH08502670A/en active Pending
-
1995
- 1995-02-20 FI FI950767A patent/FI950767A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1995-02-23 NO NO950681A patent/NO950681L/en unknown
- 1995-06-01 US US08/457,233 patent/US5573009A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-06-01 US US08/456,459 patent/US5830410A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| HU9500583D0 (en) | 1995-04-28 |
| US5830410A (en) | 1998-11-03 |
| ATE175333T1 (en) | 1999-01-15 |
| WO1994004078A1 (en) | 1994-03-03 |
| AU5008493A (en) | 1994-03-15 |
| NO950681D0 (en) | 1995-02-23 |
| EP0656763B1 (en) | 1999-01-07 |
| US5573009A (en) | 1996-11-12 |
| DE69322969D1 (en) | 1999-02-18 |
| JPH08502670A (en) | 1996-03-26 |
| FI950767A0 (en) | 1995-02-20 |
| AU672823B2 (en) | 1996-10-17 |
| EP0656763A1 (en) | 1995-06-14 |
| US5479937A (en) | 1996-01-02 |
| BR9306979A (en) | 1999-01-12 |
| FI950767A (en) | 1995-04-12 |
| HUT72565A (en) | 1996-05-28 |
| NO950681L (en) | 1995-02-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |