Rapid Antibody Titer Test for Revaccination Decisions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaccination practices for humans and animals often involve routine booster shots without considering existing antibody levels, leading to unnecessary vaccinations and potential adverse reactions, such as vaccine-associated sarcomas, and do not account for individual immune status.
Innovation Solution
A rapid, point-of-care semi-quantitative assay using a test article with a detection region containing immobilized antigens and soluble dye, where the presence of antibodies is determined by capillary flow and reporter antibodies, allowing for the assessment of minimum immunoprotective antibody levels, thereby indicating the necessity for re-vaccination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If routine booster vaccinations are administered without considering existing antibody levels, then vaccination coverage is maintained, but unnecessary vaccinations increase leading to adverse reactions and vaccine-associated sarcomas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing antibody titer testing before administering booster vaccinations. The rapid test determines existing antibody levels in advance, allowing clinicians to make informed decisions about whether revaccination is necessary. This prevents unnecessary vaccinations and their associated harms while maintaining appropriate vaccination coverage for animals that truly need it.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rapid antibody titer testing is implemented at point of care, then personalized vaccination decisions can be made, but test complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex laboratory-based mechanical testing systems with a simplified rapid test that uses capillary flow and colorimetric detection. Instead of complex instrumentation, the test employs passive capillary action to move samples and reagents, and visual color changes to indicate results. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity while enabling personalized vaccination decisions at the point of care.
Solution Approach 2:
The rapid test employs self-service principles through passive capillary flow that automatically moves samples and reagents without external pumps or power sources. The test performs its own fluid handling, mixing, and detection functions autonomously, eliminating the need for complex mechanical systems or trained operators while enabling personalized vaccination assessments in simple clinic settings.
3Measurement precision
If traditional laboratory-based antibody titration methods are used, then accurate antibody levels are determined, but time and cost requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions in the form of colorimetric changes to indicate antibody-antigen binding events. The test employs soluble dyes that undergo visible color changes when bound by antibodies, providing rapid visual readout of antibody levels. This phase transition-based detection method maintains measurement precision comparable to traditional methods while reducing testing time from days to minutes, enabling same-day vaccination decisions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables personalized vaccination decisions by determining the need for booster shots based on actual antibody levels, reducing unnecessary vaccinations and associated risks, while allowing for quick, cost-effective, and accurate testing at the point of care.
Implementation Method 1
test sample flows by capillary action to the detection region along the first path of flow
Implementation Method 2
the immobilized antigen specifically binds a minimum immunoprotective level of antibody to the at least one pathogen
Implementation Method 3
The reporter antibodies are configured to selectively bind the first immobilized antigen and non-selectively bind the control compound. The detection region is again observed for changes. The changes comprise appearance of a detectable signal in the second defined area as a positive control
Data Source
AI summary
Rapid, point of care semi-quantitative tests for viral or bacterial antibody titer, and methods and kits for carrying out the same. The test article comprises a first elongated solid support with a sample application region and a detection region. The detection region comprises immobilized antigen that specifically binds a minimum immunoprotective level of antibody to at least one pathogen of interest. Depending upon the test results, the assay can rapidly indicate whether the animal has the presumptive minimally-protective level of antibody to the target pathogen, or needs to be re-vaccinated.