Cvd assay

Abstract

An assay method and kit for the detection of potential for CVD or propensity to CVD in a human or non-human animal subject, said method comprising assessing the concentration of calprotectin in a calprotectin-containing sample taken from said subject.

1 . An assay method for the detection of potential for CVD or propensity to CVD in a human or non-human animal subject, said method comprising assessing the concentration of calprotectin in a calprotectin-containing sample taken from said subject. 
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sample is a body fluid selected from blood, serum, plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, oral fluid, synovial fluid or empyema fluid. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sample is blood. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sample is serum or plasma. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein a threshold calprotectin concentration above which said assay is indicative of potential for CVD or propensity to CVD is 0.45 mg/L. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  additionally comprising assessing the concentration of a second marker for CVD in said sample. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said second marker is C-reactive protein. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said CVD is acute myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said concentration of calprotectin is assessed by turbidimetry. 
     
     
         10 . An assay kit for use in a method according to  claim 1 , said kit comprising reagents and instructions for the performance of the assay method and for the interpretation of the results. 
     
     
         11 . A kit as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising salprotectin-containing reference samples. 
     
     
         12 . A kit as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising a detector. 
     
     
         13 . A kit as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising C-reactive protein-containing reference samples. 
     
     
         14 - 27 . (canceled)