Colorimetric LH Detection Strip for Mammalian Ovulation Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting the preovulatory LH peak in mammals are not reliable, often resulting in false positives and negatives, and are not suitable for use in animal husbandry due to their specificity to human urine or the need for specialized equipment, making them costly and impractical for use in other mammals.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the fixation of anti-LH antibodies on a test surface, followed by contact with a buffer solution and a biological sample, with subsequent rinsing and enzyme-coupled antibody incubation, allowing for visual detection of the LH peak using a substrate that produces a coloration proportional to LH concentration, enabling accurate determination of ovulation timing without requiring specialized devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If urine-based lateral flow tests are used for LH detection, then the test can be performed with simple materials, but the interpretation of results is ambiguous and produces significant false positives and negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a colorimetric detection system where the test line and control line produce distinct color patterns. The test line shows blue color in the presence of LH, while the control line remains yellow. This clear color differentiation eliminates the ambiguity of interpreting faint second bands in traditional lateral flow tests, allowing reliable visual detection of LH peak without false positives or negatives.
2Ease of manufacture
If human-specific urine tests are used, then the test design can be optimized for human physiology, but the test cannot be applied to other mammalian species
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs monoclonal antibodies that recognize conserved epitopes of LH across multiple mammalian species including humans, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, dogs, and cats. The same test kit design and procedure can be applied to detect LH peak in urine samples from different species, making the test universally applicable while maintaining optimized performance characteristics.
3Reliability
If serum-based tests are used for LH detection, then the test can provide reliable detection, but the test requires blood collection which is costly and impractical for animal husbandry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a disposable urine-based test strip that provides reliable LH detection without requiring blood collection. The test strip is designed for single-use with urine samples, eliminating the need for invasive blood sampling, special collection equipment, and complex sample processing. This makes the test practical for routine use in animal husbandry settings while maintaining detection reliability.
4Measurement precision
If specialized equipment is used for LH detection, then the measurement precision can be improved, but the cost and complexity of the test increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a self-service test system where the test strip automatically performs detection without requiring specialized equipment. The colorimetric reaction occurs spontaneously when the urine sample contacts the test strip, and results are read visually by the user. This eliminates the need for microprocessors, microscopes, or other complex devices while maintaining accurate detection of the LH peak.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of detecting the preovulatory LH peak in a biological sample obtained from mammals and a kit for applying the method of detection.The present invention finds application notably in the veterinary and medical areas.