Immunoassay Reagent Strategy for Theophylline Interference Elimination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The presence of theophylline drugs in a subject's blood affects the accuracy of immunoassay results, necessitating a method to eliminate their interference.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a theophylline interference-resistant agent, such as 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, 8-azaguanine, hypoxanthine, adenine, purine, 2,6,8-trioxypurine, adenine nucleotide, or adenosine, into the immunoassay reaction at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL to 100 mg/mL, particularly 5 mg/mL to 80 mg/mL, to mitigate interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a conventional immunoassay is performed on a sample containing theophylline drugs, then the immunoassay procedure can be completed, but the accuracy of the immunoassay results is affected due to interference from theophylline and its metabolites

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of immunoassay resultsVSAvoidinterference from theophylline drugs
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a theophylline interference-resistant agent as an intermediary substance that specifically binds to theophylline and its metabolites in the sample. This agent acts as a mediator to prevent theophylline from interfering with the immunoassay reaction, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while preserving the accuracy of the measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the immunoassay system by adding specific compounds (such as 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, 8-azaguanine, hypoxanthine, adenine, purine, 2,6,8-trioxypurine, adenine nucleotide, or adenosine) at optimized concentrations. This parameter change creates a reaction environment that is resistant to theophylline interference while maintaining assay accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If theophylline interference-resistant agents are added to eliminate interference, then the accuracy of immunoassay results is improved, but the complexity of the immunoassay procedure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of immunoassay resultsVSAvoidcomplexity of immunoassay procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The theophylline interference-resistant agent is added to the sample before the immunoassay reaction begins, allowing it to pre-bind with theophylline and eliminate interference in advance. This preliminary action simplifies the overall procedure by preventing interference rather than requiring complex post-processing steps to correct it

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The interference-resistant agent serves as a simple intermediary that selectively interacts with theophylline, creating a straightforward solution that adds only one additional reagent step without requiring complex instrumentation or multi-step processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12607625B2Method for eliminating interference of theophylline in immunoassay and immunoassay kit
Publication Date: 2026.04.21 SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a method for eliminating interference of theophylline in immunoassay and an immunodetection kit. The method for eliminating interference of theophylline in immunoassay includes: performing an immunoassay in the presence of a theophylline interference-resistant agent, the theophylline interference-resistant agent having a final concentration of 0.1 mg/mL-100 mg/mL, and being selected as at least one component from a group consisting of free 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, 8-azguanine, hypoxanthine, adenine, purine, 2,6,8-trioxypurine, adenine nucleotide, and adenosine. The method and the kit can effectively reduce interference of theophylline on immunoassay results.