Determination of a specific immunoglobulin using multiple antigens

Abstract

The invention concerns a process for the immunological determination of a specific antibody in a fluid sample. The process involves incubating the fluid sample in the presence of a solid phase with two antigens directed against the antibody whose presence is to be determined; the first antigen carries at least one marker group, while the second is either (a) bonded to the solid phase or (b) present in a form in which it can bond with the solid phase, and betrays the presence of the antibody being sought by showing the presence of the marker group in the solid phase and/or in the fluid phase. The proposed process is characterised by the fact that at least one of the two antigens has several epitopic regions which react with the antibody to be determined.

1 . A reagent for detection of an antibody against a pathogenic organism in a liquid sample, wherein said pathogenic organism is selected from the group consisting of bacteria, viruses and protozoa, the reagent comprising
 1) a solid phase;   2) a first antigen for the antibody, wherein the first antigen has at least one marker group; and   3) a second antigen for the antibody, wherein the second antigen binds to the solid phase,   
       wherein at least one of said antigen is of formula (la) or (lb)
   (P-) n T(-L) m   (l 
   T(-P-L m ) n   (l 
 
       wherein
 T is a carrier, 
 P is a peptide comprising an epitope region, wherein said epitope region is reactive with the antibody, 
 L is the marker group or a group which binds to the solid phase, 
 - is a covalent coupling, 
 wherein n is 2-40 and 
 wherein m is 1-10. 
 
     
     
         2 . The reagent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one marker group comprises a hapten and the reagent further comprises a specific binding partner for the hapten, wherein the specific binding partner has a signal-generating group. 
     
     
         2 . The reagent of  claim 1 , wherein the second antigen comprises multiple, identical epitope regions and is biotinylated, and wherein the solid phase is coated with streptavidin or avidin.