Interference reduction by rheumatoid factors

Abstract

The invention concerns a method f or the determination of an analyte in which rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances are added as an interference reducing reagent to reduce or avoid a hook effect The invention in addition concerns suitable reagent kits for carrying out the method.

1 . Method for the determination of an analyte in a sample,  
       wherein 
 rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances are added to reduce interference.  
 
     
     
         2 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 ,  
       wherein 
 the determination is carried out by a sandwich assay.  
 
     
     
         3 . method as claimed in  claim 2 ,  
       wherein 
 the determination is carried out by a one-step sandwich assay.  
 
     
     
         4 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 it comprises the binding of the analyte to a solid phase.  
 
     
     
         5 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 it comprises the steps: 
 (a) contacting the sample with a solid phase, a first analyte-specific receptor which is bound to the solid phase or is capable of binding to the solid phase, and a second analyte-specific receptor which carries a signal-generating group or is capable of binding to a signal-generating group and  
 (b) detecting the presence or/and amount of the analyte by determining the signal-generating group on the solid phase.  
 
 
     
     
         6 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 it comprises an immunological reaction.  
 
     
     
         7 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 the analyte is selected from the group comprising antibodies and antigens.  
 
     
     
         8 . Method as claimed in  claim 7 ,  
       wherein 
 the analyte is an antibody and the determination is carried out by a double-antigen bridge test.  
 
     
     
         9 . Method as claimed in  claim 7 ,  
       wherein 
 the analyte is an antibody and the determination is carried out by an indirect detection method.  
 
     
     
         10 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 the analyte is detected using a signal-generating group selected from radiolabels, enzymes, dyes, fluorescent groups and electrochemiluminescent groups.  
 
     
     
         11 . method as claimed in  claim 4  or  5 ,  
       wherein 
 the solid phase is selected from particulate media in particular microbeads, or the surface of reaction vessels in particular microtitre plates, cuvettes, test tubes, chips and sensors.  
 
     
     
         12 . Method as claimed in  claim 4 ,  5  or  11 ,  
       wherein 
 a solid phase coated with streptavidin or avidin and a biotinylated first analyte-specific receptor are used.  
 
     
     
         13 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 the rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances are present at a final concentration of 1 to 1000 TU/ml test mixture.  
 
     
     
         14 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 the rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances are added in a soluble form.  
 
     
     
         15 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 the rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances are used in a form bound to a solid phase or in a form which is capable of binding to a solid phase.  
 
     
     
         16 . Method as claimed in one of the previous claims,  
       wherein 
 a specific receptor for the rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances is additionally used which is bound to a solid phase or capable of binding to a solid phase.  
 
     
     
         17 . Method as claimed in  claim 16 ,  
       wherein 
 an anti-IgM antibody is used as the rheumatoid-factor-specific receptor.  
 
     
     
         18 . method as claimed in  claim 15 ,  
       wherein 
 a solid phase coated with streptavidin or avidin and a biotinylated rheumatoid factor or a biotinylated rheumatoid-factor-like substance are used.  
 
     
     
         19 . Method as claimed in  claim 16  or  17 ,  
       wherein 
 a solid phase coated with streptavidin or avidin and a biotinylated receptor that is specific for rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances are used.  
 
     
     
         20 . Use of rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances as interference reducing reagents in a detection method.  
     
     
         21 . Use as claimed in  claim 20  to reduce or avoid the hook effect.  
     
     
         22 . Use as claimed in  claim 20  or  21  in an immunological method.  
     
     
         23 . Method for reducing interference in immunoassays by adding rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances.  
     
     
         24 . Reagent kit for the determination of an analyte,  
       wherein 
 it contains rheumatoid factors or rheumatoid-factor-like substances as an interference reducing reagent.  
 
     
     
         25 . Reagent kit as claimed in  claim 24 ,  
       wherein 
 it additionally contains a solid phase, a first analyte-specific receptor which is bound to the solid phase or capable of binding to the solid phase and a second analyte-specific receptor which carries a signal-generating group or is capable of binding to a signal-generating group.