CA2178504C - Immunoassays for prostate specific antigen - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of cancer immunoassay. Specifically, a new immunoassay method for prostate specific antigen (PSA) is presented. Also presented is a complex which resembles a complex of PSA and .alpha.-antichymotrypsin (ACT) that can be used as a calibrator or control in an immunoassay for PSA. Further presented is a method for fractionating polyclonal antibodies, to PSA, into those which bind epitopes that are masked by the binding of PSA to ACT and those which do not bind such epitopes.

Description

WO 95/18381 ~ PCT/US94/14902 IMMUNOASSAYS FOR PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of cancer immunoassay.
Specifically, a new immunoassay method for prostate specific antigen (PSA) is presented. Also presented is a PSA-anti-PSA complex which resembles a complex of PSA and al-antichymotrypsin (ACT) that can be used as a calibrator and/or control in an immunoassay for PSA. Further presented is a method for fractionating anti-PSA polyclonal antibodies, into those which bind epitopes that are masked by the binding of PSA to ACT and those which do not bind such epitopes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) was first described by Wang, M. C., et al., Invest Urol. 17:159 (1979). It is a secretion of prostate epithelium and is also produced by prostate cancer cells. PSA was characterized as a glycoprotein monomer of 33-34,000 dalton molecular weight with protease activity (Wang, M.C., et al., supra and Ban, Y, et al., Biochem BiophXs Res Commun. 123:482 ( 1984)). More recently the amino acid sequence of the antigen has been reported (Watt, W.K., et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.
$x:3166 (1986)) and the gene for PSA has been cloned (Lundwall, A., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 161:1 151 (1989)). Development of an enzyme immunoassay by Kuriyama, et al., made it possible to detect low concentrations of PSA in the blood of patients with malignant and benign prostate disease and a significant proportion of normal males (Kuriyama, M. et al., Cancer Res. 40:4658 (1980)).
PSA testing can have significant value in detecting metastatic or persistent disease in patients following surgical or medical treatment of prostate cancer (Lange, P.H., et al., Urology 33(6 suaal):13, (June, 1989);
and Killian, C.S., et al., Cancer Res 45:886 (1985)). Persistent elevation of PSA following treatment or an increase in the post-treatment baseline PSA
level is indicative of recurrent or residual disease (Brawer, M.K., et aL, rolo 33 5 Suaoll:l 1 (May, 1989); Siddal, J.K., et al., Eur Urol 12:1:3 (1986);
Stamey, T.A., et al., N Engl J Med 317:909 ( 1987); Lange, P.H. et al., J
Urol.

WO 95/18381 L~ ~ j~ ~ ~ 4 PCT/U594114902 141:873 (1989); Stamey, T.A., et al., J Urol. 141:1076 (1989); Stamey, T.A., et al., J Urol 141:1084, ( 1989); Stamey, T.A., et al., J Urol 141:1088 (1989); and Chan, D.W., et al., Clin Chem 33:1916 (1987)).
S PSA testing alone is not recommended as a screening procedure in the general population nor as a guide in disease staging. Instead, it is widely accepted as an adjunctive test in the management of prostate cancer patients (Kuriyama, M. et aL, J Natl Cancer Inst 68:99 (1982); Stamey, T.A., et al., N Enql J Med 317:909 (1987); Lange, P.H. et al., J Urol. 141:873 ( 1989); Stamey, T.A., et al., J Urol. 141:1076 ( 1989); Stamey, T.A., et al., J_ rol 141:1084 (1989); Stamey, T.A., et al., J Urol 141:1088 (1989); Chan, D.W., et al., Clin Chem 33:1916 (1987); and Oesterling, J.E., et al., rol ~: 766 (1988)).
Measurements of the serum concentration of PSA have now found widespread use in monitoring of patients with prostate cancer, although increased serum concentrations of PSA have also been reported in benign prostatic hyperplasia and secondary to surgical trauma of the prostate (Duffy, Ann Clin Biochem, (1989); Brawer, et al., Urology Sup_pl. (1989)).
PCT patent application WO 92/01936, "Assay of Free and Complexed Prostate Specific-Antigen (PSA)" to Lilja, H. et al., published February 6, 1992, discloses immunoassays for free PSA as well as PSA as a proteinase inhibitor complex. The free PSA and the PSA complex are measured by a non-competitive immunoassay employing at least two different monoclonal antibodies. The invention is further characterized in that the PSA proteinase inhibitor complex of interest is formed either with al-antichymotrypsin (ACT), al-protease inhibitor (API) or a2-macroglobulin. Moreover, the invention is characterized in that free PSA, the PSA-proteinase inhibitor complex and their ratio to total PSA are applied in the diagnosis of patients with prostate cancer.
The patent application discloses three monoclonal antibodies ("MAB").
PSA complexed to ACT ("PSA-ACT complex" ) and free PSA were identified by MAB 2E9 and 2H11. MAB 5A10 recognizes free PSA but not PSA-ACT
complex. MAB 2E9 is the only anti-PSA MAB that readily identified free PSA
and PSA-ACT complex on immunoblots. None of the anti-PSA MAB 2E9, 2H1 1 or the 5A10 significantly blocked the binding of each other to solid phase-bound PSA.

By using different combinations of the MAB in non-competitive immunoassays of human sera, the application found that increased clinical specificity is achieved by measuring bath free PSA and PSA-ACT complex and that the ratios between free PSA/total PSA and free PSA/PSA-ACT complex are significantly different between benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer patients.
MAB specific for free PSA and those reactive with PSA-ACT complex are commercially available, for example, from CanAg Diagnostics AB, Gothenburg, Sweden. Through inhibition studies and analyses of dose-response of different combinations of their MAB, CanAg Diagnostics AB found at least 9 major antigenic determinant groups on the PSA molecule. One group of its MAB-defined epitopes was exposed both on uncomplexed PSA
and PSA-ACT complex, and another group of its MAB-defined epitopes was exposed only in free PSA. (CanAg Diagnostics AB, Nilsson et al., E i o a mapping of PSA, and development of assays for determination of different isoforms of PSA. and the abstract of the same title, Abstract P 38, J. Tumor Marker Oncology, 10th Int'l Conference on Human Tumor Markers, Sept. 8-11, 1993, Bonn, Germany).
Competitive radioimmunoassays for PSA are commercially available (e.
g., from PROS-CHECK PSA, Yang Laboratories, Inc., Bellevue, Washington).
PROS-CHECK PSA uses polyclonal rabbit antibodies to PSA, and PSA labelled with lodine~ 25, Currently, there are two types of PSA non-competitive sandwich immunoassays on the market. The first type are sandwich assays which use two sets of MAB specific for PSA: (1 ) one set of MAB ("capture antibodies") is bound onto a solid phase to capture PSA in a sample, and (2) the other set of MAB ("probe antibodies") is labelled and in free solution to bind the captured PSA for its detection. These assays are herein referred to as "MONO
assays", Generally, the binding of these MAB to PSA is not prevented by the binding of ACT to PSA. That is, generally, these MAB can bind both free PSA
and the PSA-ACT complex. Examples of such assays are the Hybritech Tandem-E and Tandem-R PSA Assays (Hybritech, La Jolla, CA). Tanc~n is a trace-mark.
The second type of sandwich assays uses MAB specific for PSA on the solid phase, and polyclonal antibodies to PSA as probe antibodies. Generally, in these assays, the MAB can bind both free PSA and the PSA-ACT complex.
In contrast, the pool of polyclonal antibodies contains antibodies which can bind both free PSA and the PSA-ACT complex, and antibodies which can bind free PSA but not the PSA-ACT complex. In the latter case, the epitopes bound by these antibodies are blocked by the binding of the ACT to PSA.
Examples of these assays are the Abbott IMxO PSA Assay (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL), and the ACSTM PSA Assay (Ciba-Corning Diagnostics Corporation, East Walpole, MA).
It has been found that the second type of sandwich assays preferentially detects free PSA over that of PSA-ACT complex (this phenomenon is herein referred to as "bias"). On the other hand, some MONO
assays do not exhibit such a bias. See Bluestein, B., et aL, J. Tumor Marker ncolo 7(4) 41 (1992).
It has been found that in the serum of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), there are more free PSA than PSA-ACT complexes. On the other hand, in the serum of prostate cancer patients, there are more PSA-ACT
complexes than free PSA. (Lilja, H., et al., Clin. Chem., ~: 1618 ( 1991 );
Stenman, U., et al., Cancer Res., 51: 222 ( 1991 ); Lilja, H., et al., ancer Suppl., 7~: 230 (1992); Christensson, A., et al., rolo , 15 : 100 (1993)).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention presents new MOLY and MONO assays for detecting and quantitating PSA in a sample, wherein the sample is treated with HEpSA Antibodies which bind free PSA but not a complex of PSA and ACT ("PSA-ACT complex"). The addition of HEpSA Antibodies to the assay s reduces or eliminates bias in these assays. Also presented are kits for conducting these assays.
Another aspect of the invention presents a complex of PSA and HEpSA Antibodies ("PSA-HEpSA Antibodies complex"), which resembles PSA-ACT complex. This complex is useful as a calibrator and/or control for PSA
immunoassays.

-$-Another aspect of the invention presents a method for fractionating polyclonal antibodies to PSA to obtain fractions containing antibodies which bind epitopes that are masked ("hidden epitopes") by the binding of PSA to ACT and those which do not bind such epitopes. Also presented are affinity columns useful for such fractionations.
The above aspects of the invention can be applied generally to any analyte which can exist in a free state or complexed to a binding molecule.
Thus in accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an immunoassay method for detecting or quantitating an Analyte A in a biological sample, the Analyte A
being capable of existing in the sample in a free form as free Analyte or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}of the Analyte A and the Binding Molecule, the method comprising the steps of (a) contacting the Analyte A to an antibody aHE specific for a particular class of hidden epitopes of the Analyte A, a capture antibody ariHE specific for a different class of non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte A, and a probe antibody aA* specific for the Analyte A, providing that if the probe antibody is a polyclonal antibody then the Analyte A is contacted to the capture antibody before the probe antibody;
(b) correlating the presence or amount of aA* which is bound to the Analyte A, with the presence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample, or correlating the amount of unbound aA* with the absence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample; wherein ariHE can bind both the free Analyte A and said complex{(A)(Binding Molecule)}; and aHE can bind the free Analyte A but not said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for conducting an assay for Analyte A in a sample, wherein the Analyte A can exist in the sample as a free Analyte A or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, the kit comprising the following:
(a) an antibody aHE which recognises a specific hidden epitope specific to the Analyte A which can bind to the free Analyte A but not Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex;
DOCSMTL: 1889845\1 -Sa-(b) a capture antibody specific for non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte A in both the free form and the complexed form; and (c) a probe antibody specific for the Analyte A.
In a specific embodiment of the invention there is provided a kit for conducting an assay for Analyte in a sample, wherein the Analyte can exist in the sample as a free Analyte or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, the kit comprising the following:
(a) a first container containing an antibody aHE specific to the Analyte which can bind to the free Analyte but not Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex;
(b) a second container containing a capture antibody specific for non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte and can bind to both the free Analyte and the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex ; and (c) a third container containing a probe antibody specific for the Analyte.
In a further specific embodiment of the invention there is provided a kit for conducting an assay for Analyte in a sample, wherein the Analyte can exist in the sample as a free Analyte or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex of Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, the kit comprising the following:
(a) a first container containing: (i) a capture antibody specific for non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte and can bind to both the free Analyte and the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, and (ii) an antibody aHE specific to the Analyte which can bind the free Analyte but not the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex; and (b) a second container containing a probe antibody specific for the Analyte.
In a still further specific embodiment of the invention there is provided. a kit for conducting an assay for Analyte in a sample, wherein the Analyte can exist in the sample as a free Analyte or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex of Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, the kit comprising the following:
DOCSMTL: 1889845\l -Sb-(a) a first container containing a capture antibody specific for non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte and can bind to both the free Analyte and the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex; and (b) a second container containing:
(i) an antibody aHE specific to the Analyte which can bind the free Analyte but not the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, and (ii) a probe antibody specific for the Analyte.
In yet another specific embodiment of the invention there is provided. an immunoassay method for detecting or quantitating an Analyte A in a sample, the Analyte A
being capable of existing in the sample in a free form as free Analyte A or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) incubating the sample with polyclonal capture antibodies aA which contain antibodies which bind the free Analyte A and antibodies which bind said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)};
(b) incubating the sample with an antibody aHE specific for a particular class of hidden epitopes of the Analyte A and capable of binding free analyte but not said complex {(A) (Binding Molecule)} for a sufficient time for the aHE to bind to the Analyte A;
(c) incubating the sample with a probe antibody anHE* specific for a different class of non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte A and capable of binding both the free Analyte A
and said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}; and (d) correlating the presence or amount of anHE* bound to the Analyte A with the presence or amount of Analyte A in the sample; or correlating the amount of unbound ar~HE* with the absence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample.
In still another specific embodiment of the invention there is provided an immunoassay method for defecting or quantitating Analyte A in a sample, the Analyte A
being capable of existing in the sample in a free form as free Analyte A or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}, the method comprising the steps o~
DOCSMTL: 1889845\1 -SC-(a) incubating the sample with a capture antibody anHE specific for a class of non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte A and which can bind both free Analyte A and said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}, for a sufficient time for the capture antibody to bind to any Analyte A and complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)} that may be present in the sample to form complexes {(cmHE)(A)} and {(ar~HE)(A)(Binding Molecule)}, respectively;
(b) incubating the sample with an antibody aHE specific for a particular class of hidden epitopes' of the Analyte A and which can bind the free Analyte A but not said complex {(A) (Binding Molecule)} for a sufficient time for the aHE to bind to the Analyte A;
(c) incubating the sample with a probe antibody aA* specific for the Analyte A
for a sufficient time to bind to the Analyte A;
(d) detecting the presence or amounts of the complexes {(ariHE)(A)(aHE)( a*)}
and {(ariHE)(A)(Binding Molecule)(aA*)}, or free aA*; and (e) correlating the presence or amounts of {(anHE)(A)( aHE)(aA*)} and {( ariHE)(A)(Binding Molecule)( aA*)} with the presence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample; or correlating the amount of free aA* with the absence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 compares the conventional method (Part A) and the method of the present invention (Part B) for assaying PSA and shows how HE.psp Antibodies modify assay specificity for free PSA and PSA-ACT complex; and FIG. 2 illustrates the method for obtaining polyclonal antibodies to hidden and non-hidden epitopes on PSA.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As used herein, the term "antibodies" includes both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, whole immunoglobulins and antigen binding fragments of the DOCSMTL: 1889845\1 -Sd-immunoglobulins. Examples of these fragments are Fab, F(ab')₂ and Fv.
Such fragments can be produced by methods known in the art.
As used herein, the term "HE Antibodies" or "aHE" denotes antibodies whose binding to their target antigen ("Analyte") would be prevented by the binding of another molecule ("Binding Molecule") to the Analyte. The term "Non-HE Antibodies" or aHE"
denotes antibodies whose binding to the Analyte is not prevented by the binding of the Binding Molecule to the Analyte. The epitope on the Analyte which is masked by the binding of the Binding Molecule to the Analyte is termed "hidden epitope"
("HE").
Similarly, the epitope on the Analyte which is not masked by the binding of the Binding Molecule to the Analyte is termed "non-hidden epitope" ("nHE"). The term "aAnalyte"
or "aA" denotes any antibody Which is directed to the Analyte, whether it is anaHE
orar~HE.
Analyte is preferably an antigen found in a biological sample, and is preferably endogenous to the sample. The Binding Molecule is preferably DOCSMTL: 1889845\1 WO 95/18381 ~ PCT/US94/14902 endogenous to the sample and is often associated with the Analyte.
Preferably, the Binding Molecule and the Analyte are proteins. Examples of Analytes are serum proteases and their Binding Molecules are serum protease inhibitors. Some of the serum proteases and their inhibitors (in parentheses) are: protein C (protein C inhibitor); elastase (anti-trypsin); cathepsin G
(ACT);
PSA (ACT); PSA (a2-macroglobulin); thrombin (anti-thrombin III ); C~-esterase (C~-inhibitor); t-PA (PAI-1 ); uPA (PAI-1 ); plasmin (a2-antiplasmin );
PSA (a~-protease inhibitor); and PSA (protein C inhibitor). "PAI-1" denotes plasminogen activator inhibitor Type 1. "t-PA" denotes tissue plasminogen activator. "uPA" denotes urinary plasminogen activator. One skilled in the art would realize that the Binding Molecule can be serum proteases and the Analyte can be serum protease inhibitors.
The term "MOLY assay" describes an immunoassay in which the capture antibodies are MAB and the probe antibodies are polyclonal antibodies, or vice versa.
The present invention discloses an immunoassay for an Analyte in a test sample. The sample is generally a biological sample. The biological sample can be biological fluids such as blood, serum, plasma, prostatic fluid, seminal fluid, urine, lymph and spinal fluid.
If a sample contains Analytes which are not bound to the Binding Molecule (these unbound Analytes are herein also referred to as "free Analytes") and Analytes which are complexed to the Binding Molecules ("complexed Analytes" or "Analyte-Binding Molecule complexes"), a MOLY
assay and some MONO assays for the Analytes would exhibit a bias in that a sample without complexed Analytes will have a higher reading than a sample with complexed Analyte. This can occur if, e.g., some members of the polyclonal antibodies used to detect the Analyte can bind free Analyte but not complexed Analyte.
The present invention discovers that the bias found in MOLY and some MONO assays for Analytes can be corrected by adding free HE Antibodies into the reaction mixture. Other. than the addition of the free HE Antibodies, the MOLY and MONO assays for a particular Analyte can be conducted according to methods known in the art for such assays. Additionally, if the Analyte in a sample is capable of being directly bound to a solid phase when the sample is incubated with the solid phase, then a capture antibody is not necessary.

Probe and capture antibodies can be produced according to methods known in the art. The probe antibodies can be labelled according to methods known in the art with labels such as chemilumiscent, fluorescent, enzyme and radioactive labels, and the assays accordingly tailored to the labels involved.
An example of luminescent-labelled immunometric assays is Wood, W. G., et al., Eur. J. Clin. Chem. Clin. Biochem.. 29: 787 (1991 ). The HE and Non-HE
Antibodies can be produced using methods known, such as those used for producing HEpSA and Non-HEpSA Antibodies discussed below. The HE
Antibodies are preferably monoclonal antibodies or specific polyclonal HE
Antibodies as described below.
One aspect of this invention thus presents a sandwich noncompetitive immunoassay for an Analyte in a biological sample. A capture antibody ("anHE") which is directed to a non-hidden epitope of the Analyte is attached to a solid phase to capture any Analyte that may be present in the biological sample. The capture antibody is incubated with HE Antibodies ("aHE") simultaneously with or after the addition of the biological sample.
Alternatively, aHE may also be incubated with the sample before it is exposed to the capture antibody. Preferably, the aHE is a MAB. The incubation lasts for a sufficient time to allow the complex of {(anHE)(Analyte)(aHE)} to form.
Next, any reagents that are not bound to the solid phase are removed from the reaction mixture. This can be done by a washing step known to those skilled in the art. For example, the unbound reagents are dissolved in an aqueous medium and washed away from the solid phase, leaving the complex of {(anHE)(Analyte)(aHE)} on the solid phase.
Next, polyclonal anti-Analyte antibodies ("aAnalyte*") are added.
aAnalyte* are preferably labeled for detection, e.g. with enzyme, radioactive, fluorescent, or chemiluminiscent labels.
The reaction mixture is incubated for a sufficient time for the formation of {(anHE)(Analyte)(aHE)(aAnalyte*)} complex and {(anHE)(Analyte)(Binding Molecule)(aAnalyte*)} complex. Note that in the complex of {(anHE)(Analyte)(aHE)(aAnalyte*)}, both aHE and aAnalyte* are bound to the Analyte in the complex. Note that if a Binding Molecule is present in the sample, another complex may also be formed, i.e. the complex of {(anHE)(Analyte)(Binding Molecule)(aAnalyte*)}.

WO 95/18381 C ~ i PCT/US94/14902 Next, the unbound reagents are separated. The formations of the complexes of {(anHE)(Analyte)(aHE)(aAnalyte*)} and {(anHE)(Analyte)(Binding Molecule)(aAnalyte*)} on the solid phase are detected by detecting the labeled aAnalyte*. If Analyte is not present in the S sample, these complexes will not be present. The presence of these complexes is directly proportional to the Analyte concentration in the sample.
Alternatively, one can assay for the presence of the remaining unbound labelled aAnalyte*, the amount of which is inversely proportional to the presence of the Analyte in the sample.
The above assay format can also be used in MONO assays which exhibit bias. In a MONO assay, the above discussion will apply, except that the aAnalyte* is labelled anHE (i.e. "anHE*").
In the case where the capture antibody is a polyclonal antibody and the probe antibody is a MAB, the above discussion will apply except that the capture antibody is aAnalyte or anHE (anHE can be fractionated from polyclonal antibodies, e.g. by the fractionation methods described below), and the probe antibody is anHE*. If the capture antibodies, aAnalyte, contain a subpopulation of aHE, there will also be an additional complex of {(aHE)(Analyte)(anHE*)} resulting from the above assay steps.
The above discussion presumes that there is only one HE on the Analyte. However, it shall be noted that if a particular aHE does not mask all the HE on the Analyte, then additional HE Antibodies directed to other HE
sites on the Analyte are to be used.
One skilled in the art would realize that a probe antibody need not be labeled if it can be specifically bound by another molecule which is labeled.
Further, if the Analyte can be directly bound to the solid phase, then a capture antibody need not be used.
Also presented in this application are assay kits for conducting the above assays. Preferably, the assay kit has a container containing unlabelled HE Antibodies; and another container containing capture antibodies directed to the Analyte, preferably these antibodies are directed to non-HE, more preferably they are MAB, most preferably, they are bound to a solid phase.
The unlabelled HE Antibodies can be in a separate container or in the same container as the capture antibodies or the probe antibodies. For a MOLY

Assay, the kit may additionally have: a container containing probe polyclonal antibodies to Analyte and preferably the antibodies are labeled for detection;
and another container containing reagents which would react with the labels on the antibodies to emit a signal. For example, the polyclonal antibodies can be labeled with an enzyme such as alkaline phosphatase and the reagent which would react with it will be the enzyme substrate. In the case of alkaline phosphatase, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (MUP) has been found to be convenient and the reaction is described in Example II below. Alternatively, the probe antibodies can be monoclonal antibodies, and the capture antibodies can be polyclonal antibodies. In such a case, the monoclonal probe antibodies are preferably Non-HE Antibodies. For a MONO assay, the probe and capture antibodies are MAB directed to the Analyte. Preferably, the probe and capture MAB are non-HE Antibodies. In the above kits, the antibodies are preferably in a solution, such as a buffer, which has no adverse effect on immunoassay. The above kits may additionally have containers) containing calibrators) and/or containers) contianing control(s). For an Analyte Assay, the preferred calibrator and control contain free Analyte, the complex of Analyte-HE Antibodies, or the complex of Analyte-Binding Molecule described below.
In the preferred invention, the Analyte is PSA, and the Binding Molecule is ACT. The HE Antibodies to PSA are those which bind free PSA but not PSA-ACT complex. These antibodies are herein also referred to as "HEpSA
Antibodies". The corresponding Non-HE Antibodies are also referred to as "Non-HEpSA Antibodies".
The methods for obtaining HEpSA Antibodies (and Non-HEpSA
Antibodies) are known in the art. For example, they are described in PCT
patent application WO 92/01936, to H. Lilja et al., supra. and CanAg Diagnostics AB, Nilsson et al., ~itope mapping of PSA~and development of assays for determination of different isoforms of PSA (1993) and its Abstract of the same title, ~aora.. Examples of HEpSA Antibodies are: (1 ) MAB 5A10 as described in WO 92/01936; (2) MAB 9810 which is disclosed in K.
Pettersson et al., Development of Immunofluorometric Methods for PSA to Improve the Discrimination Between Early Prostate Cancer and Benian Prostatic Hyperplasia. XV International Congress of Clinical Chemistry, Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 14-19 (1993) which also discloses MAB H117 and H50; and (3) MAB PSA6, PSA30, PSA17, PSA19, PSA20, and PSA25 which are commcercially available from CanAg Diagnostics AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.

It is known in the art that one may use both MAB 5A10 and 9810, their production and characteristics; the hybridomas secreting these MABs are therein designated 5A1 OE7F11 H4 and 9B1 OA9H3, respectively. These hybridomas 5 were deposited with the European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures (ECACC), Public Health Laboratory Service, Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 OJG, Great Britain on March 12, 1993, and given ECACC accession Nos. 93031201 and 93031202, respectively.
Thus, in particular, the present invention presents three inventions useful for PSA assays: new PSA assays using HEpSA Antibodies; a method for selecting specific polyclonal HEpSA Antibodies and antibodies for non-hidden 1 S epitopes; and PSA-HEpSA Antibody complex which resembles PSA-ACT
complex. The first two inventions avoid or reduce bias present in the prior art MOLY assays. The last invention is useful as calibrator and/or control for both the MONO and MOLY PSA assays. The specific polyclonal Non-HEpSA
Antibodies selected by the second method can also be used in both MOLY (as either probe or capture antibodies, or both) and competitve (as capture antibodies) immunoassays for PSA. On the other hand, HEpSA Antibodies could be used in assays specific for free PSA or they could be used in PSA
immunoassays (whether MOLY or MONO) suffering from a bias to alleviate or eliminate such bias, as described above.
The present application uses PSA, ACT, and HEpSA Antibodies and Non-HEpSA Antibodies to illustrate the invention. However, one skilled in the art would understand that the invention can be applied to any Analyte, Binding Molecule, and HE Antibodies and Non-HE Antibodies, respectively.
I. f~EW PSA IMMLlfIOASSAY METHOD
Figure 1 compares the conventional PSA MOLY assay (Part A) and the PSA MOLY assay of the present invention (Part B) to illustrate how'HEpSA
Antibodies modify assay specificity for free PSA and PSA-ACT complex.

WO 95/18381 PC"T/US94114902 Part A presents the conventional MOLY assay which suffers from bias.
The procedural steps in Part A are the same as Part B except that Part B has the additional step of Step B1.
The steps in Part A are as follow:
Step A1: A Non-HE Antibody (anHE1 ) which is specific for a non-hidden epitope (designated nHE1 ) on the PSA molecule is linked to a solid phase. When a sample containing either free PSA or PSA
ACT complex is allowed to react with the solid phase bound anHEl, both free PSA and PSA-ACT complex can bind exclusively through the nHE1 epitope. On the other hand, the HE is still available on free PSA for subsequent reaction with other antibodies.
Step A2: The subsequent addition of labelled polyclonal antibodies to PSA
("labelled polyclonals" ), which contain both labelled antibodies specific for HE (aHE*) and antibodies specific for non-HE2 (anHE2*), will result in the binding of both types of antibodies to the free PSA. In contrast, since HE is masked by ACT in the PSA-ACT complex, the same labelled polycionals can only bind to the non-hidden epitope nHE2. These labelled polyclonals are conjugated to a label for detection purpose. Examples of labels are: chemiluminiscent labels, radioactive labels, and enzyme labels which are known in the art. In this example, the label is an enzyme. The unbound reagents are removed from the solid phase, e.g., by washing the solid phase using methods known in the art.
Step A3: Then the enzyme substrate is added to the solid phase and the enzymatic product generates a signal which is monitored. The free PSA which has bound two labelled polyclonals generates twice the signal as the PSA-ACT complex, which has bound only one labelled polyclonal resulting in a positive bias for the free form of PSA.
Part B presents the assay of the present invention in which unlabelled HEpsA Antibodies are added (in Step B1 ) to the assay described in Part A and this results in an assay without bias.

WD 95/18381 ~ PCT/US94/14902 The steps in Part B are as follow:
Step B1: The sample is pretreated with an unlabelled HEpSA Antibody (aHE). This antibody reacts with HE on the free PSA, but it does not bind to PSA-ACT complex. Alternatively, the unlabelled aHE
can be added in Step B2 or Step B3, respectively.
Step B2: The sample is added to solid phase bound anHE 1 antibody as in Part A.
Step B3: The subsequent addition of labelled polyclonals containing labelled antibodies which recognize HE (aHE*) and antibodies which recognize non-HE (anHE2*) will result in the binding of anHE2* to both free PSA and PSA-ACT complex. aHE* cannot bind free PSA nor PSA-ACT complex, because HE is masked by unlabelled aHE in the free PSA and by ACT in the PSA-ACT
complex.
Step B4: The substrate is added and the signal monitored. Both free PSA
and PSA-ACT complex generate equivalent signal, because both have only bound the anHE2*. This results in an assay without bias to free PSA compared to the PSA-ACT complex.
Materials for the solid phase can be any of those used for immunoassays. Natural, synthetic or naturally occurring materials that are synthetically modified can be used. They include: polysaccharides, e.g., cellulose materials including paper, cellulose and cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose; silica; fiberglass; inorganic materials such as deactivated aluminium, diatomaceous earth or other inorganic finely divided material uniformly dispersed in a porous polymer matrix made of polymers such as vinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-propylene copolymer, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer; cloth, both naturally occurring (e.g., cotton) and synthetic (e.g., nylon); porous gels such as silica gel, agarose, dextran and gelatin; polymeric films such as polyacrylamide; magnetic particles;
microtitre plates; polystyrene tubes; protein binding membranes; agarose; Sephadex (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, Inc., Piscataway, N.J.); Trisacryl (Pointet-Girard, France); sillicon particles; porous fibrous matrixes etc. The solid phase is WO 95/18381 ~ PCT/US94l14902 preferably synthetic microparticles preferably made of polystyrene, vinyl chloride or latex of 0.1 to 10 microns in diameter.
S II. METHODS FOR FRACTIONATING POLYCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO
ANALYTES
The present invention also presents methods for fractionating polyclonal antibodies to Analytes to yield fractions containing HE Antibodies and Non-HE Antibodies, respectively. Polyclonal antibodies to Analytes can be produced using methods known in the art. For example, the antibodies can be produced by injecting a host animal such as a rabbit, rat, goat, mouse, etc., with the Analyte or fragments thereof, alone or conjugated to an appropriate carrier, if required, to elicit an antibody response.
This method comprises exposing the polyclonal antibodies to a Analyte which has its HE site masked ("masked Analyte") by either a Binding Molecule or an HE Antibody. The antibodies that bind the masked Analyte, and which can be eluted, are Non-HE Antibodies which bind both free Analyte and the complex of Analyte-Binding Molecule. Thus, immunoassays using Non-HE
Antibodies to detect the Analyte, which may be present in free or complexed forms, will not exhibit a bias. The Non-HE Antibodies thus obtained can be used in both MOLY (as either probe or capture antibodies, or both) and competitve (as capture antibodies) immunoassays. On the other hand, the polyclonal antibodies that do not bind the masked Analyte are HE Antibodies.
HE Antibodies could be used in assays specific for free Analyte or as described above for addition in Analyte assays (whether MOLY or MONO
immunoassays) suffering from a bias to alleviate or eliminate such bias.
The above fractionation is preferably conducted using affinity chromatography. Preferably, the masked Analyte is cross-linked to the Binding Molecule, HE Antibodies, or Non-HE Antibodies. The cross-linking can be achieved by methods known in the art or modification of such which is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art. Examples of publications which 3 S disclose methods for cross-linking molecules are: Ji, T. H., Methods in Enz~rmoloav, X1:580 (1983); Wong, S. S., et al., in Chapter 22, 266-282 of Biocatalyst Desian for Stability and Specificity. Eds. M.E. Himmel and G.
Georgiou, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC (1993); M. N. Gupta in Chapter 26, 307-326 of Biocatalvst Design for Stability and Specificity, Eds.

M.E. Himmel and G. Georgiou, su a; chemical ReaoerLts for Protein Modification, 2nd ed., R.L. Lundblad, CRC Press, Boston.
Preferably, the resulting complex is bound to a solid, directly or by means of a binding agent such as a HE Antibody which is immobilized on the solid phase, and used in affinity chromatography to select for the HE
Antibodies. The general methods for affinity chromatograpy, such as the preparations of the antibodies and solid phase, and the procedures are known in the art, see e.g. Bio-Rad Bulletin 1099, lmmunoaffinity Chromatoar~~hy with Affinity Supports (1990); Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Af nit Chromatography. Princiales & Methods (1993); and Methods in Molecular iolo , vol. 10, "Immunochemical Protocols", ed: M. M. Manson, p. 89-91 (1992); Immunochemistp~ in Practice, A. Johnstone, et al., Chapter 10, 202-232, Scientific Publications, Oxford (1982); and Current O inion in Biotechnology, vol. 2, "Affinity Chromatography for Protein Isolation", W.H.
Scouten, 37-43 (199i).
Figure 2 illustrates the three methods for fractionating polyclonal antibodies into HE Antibodies and Non-HE Antibodies using PSA, ACT and HEpSA Antibodies as examples. The methods are as follow:
Part A: Use of ACT to Bind PSA
ACT is conjugated to a solid phase, such as cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose-4B (commercially available from Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Sweden). Purified PSA is allowed to react with the ACT to form a PSA-ACT complex that masks the hidden epitopes (HE). The complex can be further stabilized by chemical cross-finking. When polyclonal antibodies to PSA are incubated with the PSA-ACT-solid phase, HEpSA Antibodies will be unbound. Non-HEpSA Antibodies specific for non-hidden epitopes, such as nHE1 and nHE2, will be bound and can be eluted with standard methods, such as low pH. Thus, the polycfonal anti-PSA antibodies are separated into HEpSA and Non-HEpSA Antibodies.

i 7:~5 ~ 4 pCT/US94I14902 Part B: Use of HEpSA Antibodies (aHE) to Bind PSA
HEpsA Antibodies (aHE) are conjugated to a solid phase, such as cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose-4B. Purified PSA is S allowed to react with the aHE to form a PSA-aHE complex that masks the hidden epitopes (HE). The complex can be further stabilized by chemical cross-linking. When polyclonal antibodies to PSA are incubated with the PSA-aHE solid phase, polyclonal HEpSA Antibodies will not be bound to the solid phase. On the 10 other hand, polyclonal Non-HEpSA Antibodies will be bound and can be eluted with standard methods, such as tow pH. It shall be noted that if a particular aHE does not mask all the HE on the PSA, then additional HE Antibodies directed to other HE sites can be used simultaneously or preferably, in sequential 1 S fractionation columns.
Part C: Use of Non-HEpSA Antibodies (anHE1 ) to Bind PSA Followed by Use of HEpSA Antibody (aHE) to Block HE
Non-HEpsA Antibodies (anHEl) directed to non-hidden epitope 1 (nHEl ) are conjugated to a solid phase, such as cyanogen brorriide-activated Sepharose-4B. Purified PSA is allowed to react with the anHEl to form a PSA-anHEl complex. An HEpsA Antibody (aHE) is allowed to react with the PSA-anHEl to form a complex that masks the hidden epitopes (HE). The complex can be further stabilized by chemical cross-linking. When polyclonal antibodies to PSA
are incubated with the solid phase-anHEl-PSA-aHE, antibodies to HE and nHEl will not bind to the solid phase.
Non-HEpsA Antibodies to non-hidden epitopes other than nHEl will be bound to the solid phase and can be eluted with standard methods, such as low pH. The antibodies that do not bind to the solid phase can be further separated by methods A or B. Thus, the polyclonal anti-PSA
3 S antibodies are separated into HEpsA Antibodies, Antibodies to nHEl and nHE other than nHEl. It shall be noted that if a particular aHE does not mask all the HE on the PSA, then additional HE Antibodies directed to other HE sites can be used simultaneously or in sequential fractionation columns.

III. COMPLEXES OF ANALYTE-HE ANTIBODIES USEFUL AS CALIBRATORS
AND CONTROLS FOR PSA ASSAYS
Another aspect of the invention presents a complex of Analyte-HE
Antibody which can serve as a calibrator and control in an assay for Analytes.
The complex can be formed by adding an excess of HE Antibodies to the Analyte. The HE Antibodies are preferably at a 2-fold to 100-fold, and a more preferred 10-fold excess to the Analyte. Alternatively, the Analyte can be cross-linked to the HE Antibodies. The method described above for cross-linking Analyte and Binding Molecule are similarly applicable for cross-linking Analyte and HE Antibodies. The complex is preferably stored in an inert buffer such as phosphate buffered saline, Tris-HCI, or HEPES. The storage temperature preferably ranges from 2°C to 25°C. The pH is preferably between 5 to 9. A cross-linked complex of the Analyte and its Binding Molecule useful as a calibrator or control in an assay for the Analyte can also be similarly produced.
The following examples illustrate the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting it.
Examples Example I. New PSA Assay Method The following experiment was conducted using the reagents for IMx~
PSA Assay and conducted on the IMx~ instrument (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) following the protocol in the IMxO PSA Assay's accompanying package insert, except that in this invention, the Assay Diluent additionally contained 0 to 20 ug/mL of MAB 9810 or 5A10 (discussed above) which bind free PSA but not PSA-ACT complex. The IMxO PSA Assay reagents include the following: ( 1 ) microparticles coated with capture antibody MAB
H50 ("Anti-PSA Coated Microparticles") which bind and capture both free and complexed PSA (i.e. PSA complexed to ACT) onto the microparticles; and (2) goat polyclonal antibodies to PSA (which serve as probe antibodies) which are labelled with alkaline phosphatase for detection ("goat polyclonal Anti-PSA:
Alkaline Phosphatase Conjugate" or "probe polyclonal antibodies" ).

PC"T/US94/14902 The samples tested were pooled serum samples from patients with prostate cancer.
S The descriptions of the IMxO instrument, its operation and general protocol can be found in Barnes et al., J. Clin. Imm., 14 (2): 115-119 (1991 ) and EP-A-288,793; Ludington et al., Clin. Chem., ~(9), 1726-1732 (1988)).
The components of the reaction cells are shown in Figure 2(a) of Clin. Chem., ,~(9), at 1727. In this case, the reaction scheme is that of a microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA), as follows:
(1 ) The probe/electrode assembly of the IMxO instrument delivers the sample, Anti-PSA Coated Microparticles and Assay Diluent to the incubation well of the reaction cell. During the incubation of this reaction mixture, the free and complexed PSA in the sample bind to the Anti-PSA Coated Microparticles forming an antibody-antigen complex. MAB 9810 in turn binds the PSA (which is not complexed to ACT) that is bound to the Anti-PSA
Coated Microparticles, to form an antibody-antigen-antibody complex.
(2) An aliquot of the reaction mixture is transferred to the glass fiber matrix of the IMxO instrument. The microparticles bind irreversibly to the glass fiber matrix.
(3) The matrix is washed to remove unbound materials, e.g. serum proteins, Assay Diluent, and MAB 9810 that are not bound to the microparticles.
(4) The goat polyclonal Anti-PSA: Alkaline Phosphatase Conjugate is dispensed onto the matrix and binds to the antibody-antigen-antibody complex.
(5) The matrix is washed to remove unbound materials.

(6) The substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (MUP), is added to the matrix and the surface-bound alkaline phosphatase converts the nonfluorogenic MUP to 4-methylumbelliferone (MU), whose fluorescence is measured by the MEIA optical assembly of the IMx~
instrument.

The above assay steps were run separately but concurrently using calibrators and controls containing free PSA, instead of samples. The readings for the samples (i.e. panels) were read off the calibrators (of Table 1 below) to arrive at the PSA values reported in Tables 2 and 3 below.

Table 1 Calibrators MAB 9810 (Free PSA) Concentration (ng/ml) in Assay Diluent (ug/ml) 0 7.0 6.3 6.4 6.1 2 90.9 58.0 58.3 57.4 373.6 248.6 248.8 247.1 30 877.3 640.1 623.4 606.3 60 1394.8 1084.8 1084.8 1053.7 100 1834.3 ~ 1486.1 ~ 1520.8 ~ 1493.8 The readings were taken in c/s/s.
Table 2 Controls MAB 9810 (Free PSA) Concentration in Assay Diluent (ug/ml) Low (3-5 n /ml) 3.98 4.14 4.17 3.86 Medium ( 12-18 n /ml) 15.18 15.02 15.12 14.95 High (36-54 ng/ml) 46.90 42.85 45.87 J 48.20 The readings are reported in ng/ml.
Table 3 Panels Concentration (Pooled Prostate Cancer in Assay Patient Sera) Diluent (ug/ml) JP1 50.49 77.88 83.71 85.72 C8 1.37 2.01 2.02 2.08 C9 3.25 5.06 4.97 5.16 C10 13.02 18.99 19.21 19.69 C11 36.65 60.88 62.62 64.93 92-297-0384 26.59 48.15 47.71 50.13 The readings are reported in ng/ml.
The above Tables show that increasing amounts of free MAB 9810 in the assay reduced the calibration curve signals and increased sample panel values. The effect of MAB 9B 10 on panel values appears to plateau at about 10 ug/ml. The above experiments were repeated using MAB 5A10 in place of MAB 9810 and the results were similar.

In the following experiment, the above plateau level of 10 ug/ml of MAB 9810 in Assay Diluent was used to demonstrate bias between free and complexed PSA. A sample containing free PSA was mixed with purified ACT
S and allowed to form complexes. Purified PSA and ACT were obtained from Dr.
Hans Lilja, University of Malmo. Purification of PSA and ACT and formation of complexes of PSA and ACT have been previously described (A. Christensson, et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 1_~4: 755-763, 1990). Purified seminal fluid PSA in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 containing 7.5% bovine serum albumin and 10 0.05% sodium azide was mixed with a 100 molar excess of purified ACT. A
control sample of PSA was mixed with buffer instead of ACT. These samples were allowed to incubate overnight at 35 °C.
Following the incubation, these samples were assayed in the IMxO PSA
15 assay with the following modifications:
a. Abbott IMxO PSA Assay (no modifications) b. Abbott IMx~ PSA Assay with 9810 in Assay Diluent (i.e. with the addition of 10 ug/mL of 9810 to the Assay Diluent) c. Abbott IMx~ PSA Assay with MAB H50 probe and MAB H1 17 20 capture antibodies (i.e. with the use of H 117 coated microparticles and labelled H50) The assay was performed as described above. Table 4 shows the amounts of PSA obtained for the free PSA samples and for the PSA samples which had ACT added. Bias is indicated by the reduction of the amount of PSA detected in the sample containing ACT as compared to the PSA control.

Table 4 Assay Tested Free PSA + ACT % Bias PSA

Abbott IMx~ PSA Assa 64.7 40.9 36.8 Abbott IMx~ PSA Assay with 9B10 in Assa Diluent 67.2 61.3 8.8 Abbott IIvIx~ PSA Assay with IvIAB H50 probe antibodies and MAB H117 capture 68.8 70.1 -1.8 antibodies The readings were taken in ng/ml The data in Table 4 shows that the MONO assay (with MAB H50 as probe antibodies and MAB H117 as capture antibodies) has no bias. In contrast, the MOLY assay (Abbott IMxO PSA Assay) has a 36.8% bias which , is dramatically reduced by the addition of free MAB 9810 to the assay.
The above experiment was repeated, wherein the MONO assay used MAB H50 as capture antibody and MAB H1 17 as probe antibody. It was observed that such a MONO assay also suffered from bias which can be eliminated by the addition of free 9810 in the Assay Diluent.
Example II
PSA-HE Antibody Complex Useful As Calibrators and Controls The mixture of HEpsA Antibodies with PSA results in the formation of a PSA-HEpSA Antibodies complex in which the hidden epitopes are blocked similarly to PSA-ACT complex. This material can be used as a calibrator or control in PSA assays.
Seminal fluid PSA in 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4 is mixed with 9810 at a 10-fold excess and incubated overnight at 2-8 degrees C.
Following incubation, the PSA-HEpSA Antibody complex is diluted in IMx~ PSA
Calibrator Diluent at levels of 0, 2, 10, 30, 60 and 100 ng/mL. These calibrators can be used in the IMx~ PSA assay and mimic PSA-ACT complexes by masking the HE on PSA.

Example III
Cross-Linking HE Antibody to Free PSA for Selecting Polyclonal Antibodies to PSA HE and PSA non-HE
This example describes the implementation of the fractionation method shown in Part B of Figure 2 discussed above. MAB 5A10 is used to illustrate the method though any HEpSA Antibody can be used in its place, such as MAB 9810.
In the initial step, 5A10 is cross-linked to cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose-4B based on manufacturer's recommendations. (Affinity Chromatograph,~ia~les and Methods, Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Sweden, 23-30 (1993)).
The procedure is as follows:
The 5A10 for Affinity Column is mixed with 0.1 M sodium phosphate dibasic (Na2HP04) and the pH is adjusted to 9Ø 5A10 is then mixed with cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose-4B gel at a ratio of 2 mg 5A10 per mL of gel. The mixture is incubated at 2° - 8°C overnight with gentle shaking.
Following the coupling of 5A10 to the Sepharose gel, the gel is washed with 0.1 M Na2HP04, pH 8.0, to remove any unbound ligand, and then mixed with 1 M ethanolamine, pH 8.0, at 2° - 8°C to block any active groups remaining in the gel. The gel is washed with distilled or deionized water followed by two alternating cycles of 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer with 1 M
NaCI pH 4.0 and 0.1 M Na2HP04 with 1 M NaCI, pH 8Ø A column is poured, washed with PBS solution (0.01 M NaHP04, 0.15M NaCI, pH 7.2) and then eluted with 0.1 M glycine, 0.1 M NaCI, pH 2.5. The column is then washed with PBS at pH 7.2 containing 0.1 % sodium azide. The 5A10 affinity column is stored at 2° - 8°C.
The next step in the procedure involves the binding of PSA to the Sepharose 4B-5A10 followed by chemical crosslinking to stabilize the 5A10-PSA complex. Binding of PSA to 5A10 blocks the HE on the PSA so that the HE cannot bind other HEpSA antibodies. The procedure for cross-linking insoluble proteins with the cross-linking agent, dimethylpalemidate (DMP) has previously been described. (C. Schneider, et al., J. 8iol. Chem. 25, 10766-10769, ( 1982)).
The next procedure is as follows:
Remove the Sepharose 4B-5A10 gel from the column and place it in a graduated cylinder. After the gel has settled, remove the residual buffer. For each mL of packed gel, add 10 mg of purified PSA at an initial concentration of 2 mg/mL in 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Transfer to an Erlenmeyer flask and incubate at 2-8°C overnight with~gentle shaking.
Following overnight incubation, wash the gel twice in 10 volumes of 0.2M triethanolamine, pH 9.0 (TEA) on a Buchner funnel. Transfer the gel to a beaker and add 5 parts of 40mM DMP in TEA, pH 9Ø Incubate with shaking 1 S for 1 hour at room temperature. Using a Buchner funnel wash with 10-20 volumes of TEA, pH 9.0 and 10-20 volumes of 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4 with 0.0296 sodium azide. Transfer gel to column.
The final step of the process is to purify polyclonal antibodies to PSA
over the Sepharose 4B-5A10-PSA column by standard affinity procedures as follows:
Dilute the anti-PSA polyclonal antibodies 1:1 with column buffer (0.01 M phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4). (Examples of polyclonal antibodies are goat, rabbit, sheep, mouse, and rat polyclonal antibodies.) Slowly, load the sample onto the column. Collect the protein that does not bind to the column. This fraction contains the HE antibodies. Wash the column with column buffer and monitor the OD at 280 nm. When the absorbance falls to baseline, rapidly elute the bound non-HE Antibodies with 0.1 M glycine-HCI, pH
2.5. Collect fractions into an equal volume of 0.1 M Tris-HCI, pH 8.5 to rapidly adjust the pH to neutrality. Both the purified HE and non-HE
antibodies may be dialyzed into the desired buffer and stored at 2-8°C
following filtration through a 0.2 micron sterile filter. Alternatively, the antibodies may be frozen.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that various modifications and changes which are within the skill of those skilled in the art are considered to fall within the scope of the S appended claims. Future technological advancements which allow for obvious changes in the basic invention herein are also within the claims.

Claims (33)

Claims:

1. An immunoassay method for detecting or quantitating an Analyte A in a biological sample, the Analyte A being capable of existing in the sample in a free form as free Analyte or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}of the Analyte A and the Binding Molecule, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) contacting the Analyte A to an antibody .alpha.HE specific for a particular class of hidden epitopes of the Analyte A, a capture antibody .alpha.nHE specific for a different class of non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte A, and a probe antibody .alpha.A* specific for the Analyte A, providing that if the probe antibody is a polyclonal antibody then the Analyte A is contacted to the capture antibody before the probe antibody;
(b) correlating the presence or amount of .alpha.A* which is bound to the Analyte A, with the presence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample, or correlating the amount of unbound .alpha.A* with the absence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample; wherein .alpha.nHE can bind both the free Analyte A and said complex{(A)(Binding Molecule)}; and .alpha.HE can bind the free Analyte A but not said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}.

2. The immunoassay method of claim 1, wherein the Analyte A and Binding Molecule are proteins.

3. The immunoassay method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the probe antibody is a polyclonal antibody.

4. The immunoassay method of claim 3, wherein the capture antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

5. The immunoassay method of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising the step of separating the sample and unbound .alpha.HE from a solid phase, before adding .alpha.A*
to the solid phase, and then separating the unbound .alpha.A* and detecting the .alpha.A*
bound to the solid phase.

6. The immunoassay method of claim 3, wherein the probe antibody is a population of polyclonal antibodies comprising antibodies which bind the free Analyte A and not said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}, and antibodies which bind both the free Analyte A and said1 complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}.

7. The immunoassay method of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein .alpha.HE is a monoclonal antibody.

8. The immunoassay method of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the probe antibody is labelled for detection.

9. The immunoassay method of claim 1, wherein the Analyte A is a serum protease and the Binding Molecule is a serum protease inhibitor.

10. The immunoassay method of claim 1, wherein the Analyte A and its corresponding Binding Molecule are selected from the group consisting of:
protein C (protein C inhibitor); elastase (anti-trypsin); cathepsin G (ACT);
PSA
(ACT); PSA (.alpha.2-macroglobulin); thrombin (antithrombin III); C1-esterase (C1-inhibitor); t-PA (PAI-1); uPA (PAI-1); plasmin (.alpha.2-antiplasmin); PSA
.alpha.1-protease inhibitor); and PSA (protein C inhibitor), and vice versa.

11. The immunoassay method of claim 10, wherein the Analyte A is PSA and the Binding Molecule is ACT.

12. The immunoassay method of claim 11, wherein the .alpha.HE is a monoclonal antibody selected from the group consisting of: 9B10, 5A10, PSA6, PSA30, PSA17, PSA19, PSA20, and PSA25.

13. The immunoassay method of claim 11, wherein the probe antibody is monoclonal antibody H50, the capture antibody is monoclonal antibody H117.

14. The immunoassay method of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the sample is a biological sample.

15. The immunoassay method of claim 14, wherein the Analyte A and Binding Molecule are endogenous to the biological sample.

16. The immunoassay method of claim 1, wherein the capture antibody is bound to a solid phase.

17. The immunoassay method of claim 8, wherein the probe antibody is labelled with a chemiluminescent, enzymatic, radioactive or fluorescent label.

18. The immunoassay method of claim 1, wherein the capture antibody and the probe antibody are monoclonal antibodies.

19. A kit for conducting an assay for Analyte A in a sample, wherein the Analyte A can exist in the sample as a free Analyte A or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, the kit comprising the following:
(a) an antibody .alpha.HE which recognises a specific hidden epitope specific to the Analyte A which can bind to the free Analyte A but not Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex;
(b) a capture antibody specific for non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte A in both the free form and the complexed form; and (c) a probe antibody specific for the Analyte A.

20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the Analyte A is PSA, the Binding Molecule is ACT, the capture antibody and .alpha.HE are monoclonal antibodies, and the probe antibody is a polyclonal antibody.

21. The kit of claim 19 or 20, further comprising a container containing a complex of Analyte bound to .alpha.HE.

22. The kit of claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein said probe antibody is labelled for detection.

23. A kit for conducting an assay for Analyte in a sample, wherein the Analyte can exist in the sample as a free Analyte or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, the kit comprising the following:
(a) a first container containing an antibody .alpha.HE specific to the Analyte which can bind to the free Analyte but not Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex;
(b) a second container containing a capture antibody specific for non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte and can bind to both the free Analyte and the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex ; and (c) a third container containing a probe antibody specific for the Analyte.

24. The kit of claim 23, wherein the capture antibody is bound to a solid phase.

25. The kit of claim 23 or 24, further comprising a container containing a complex of Analyte bound to .alpha.HE.

26. The kit of claim 23, wherein the probe antibody is labelled for detection, and the kit further comprises a fourth container containing a reagent which reacts with the label on the probe antibody to produce a detectable signal.

27. The kit of claim 26, wherein the capture antibody is bound to a solid phase.

28. The kit of claim 27, wherein the Analyte is PSA, the Binding Molecule is ACT, the capture antibody and .alpha.HE are monoclonal antibodies, and the probe antibody is a polyclonal antibody.

29. The kit of claim 27, wherein the Analyte is PSA, the Binding Molecule is ACT, the capture antibody, probe antibody and .alpha.HE are monoclonal antibodies.

30. A kit for conducting an assay for Analyte in a sample, wherein the Analyte can exist in the sample as a free Analyte or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex of Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, the kit comprising the following:
(a) a first container containing:
(i) a capture antibody specific for non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte and can bind to both the free Analyte and the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, and (ii) an antibody .alpha.HE specific to the Analyte which can bind the free Analyte but not the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex; and (b) a second container containing a probe antibody specific for the Analyte.

31. A kit for conducting an assay for Analyte in a sample, wherein the Analyte can exist in the sample as a free Analyte or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex of Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, the kit comprising the following:
(a) a first container containing a capture antibody specific for non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte and can bind to both the free Analyte and the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex; and (b) a second container containing:
(i) an antibody .alpha.HE specific to the Analyte which can bind the free Analyte but not the Analyte-Binding Molecule Complex, and (ii) a probe antibody specific for the Analyte.

32. An immunoassay method for detecting or quantitating an Analyte A in a sample, the Analyte A being capable of existing in the sample in a free form as free Analyte A or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) incubating the sample with polyclonal capture antibodies .alpha.A which contain antibodies which bind the free Analyte A and antibodies which bind said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)};
(b) incubating the sample with an antibody .alpha.HE specific for a particular class of hidden epitopes of the Analyte A and capable of binding free analyte but not said complex {(A) (Binding Molecule)} for a sufficient time for the .alpha.HE to bind to the Analyte A;
(c) incubating the sample with a probe antibody .alpha.nHE* specific for a different class of non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte A and capable of binding both the free Analyte A and said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}; and (d) correlating the presence or amount of .alpha.nHE* bound to the Analyte A
with the presence or amount of Analyte A in the sample; or correlating the amount of unbound .alpha.nHE* with the absence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample.

33. An immunoassay method for defecting or quantitating Analyte A in a sample, the Analyte A being capable of existing in the sample in a free form as free Analyte A or bound to a Binding Molecule to form a complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) incubating the sample with a capture antibody .alpha.nHE specific for a class of non-hidden epitopes of the Analyte A and which can bind both free Analyte A
and said complex {(A)(Binding Molecule)}, for a sufficient time for the capture antibody to bind to any Analyte A and complex{(A)(Binding Molecule)} that may be present in the sample to form complexes {(.alpha.nHE)(A)} and {(.alpha.nHE)(A)(Binding Molecule)}, respectively;
(b) incubating the sample with an antibody .alpha.HE specific for a particular class of hidden epitopes' of the Analyte A and which can bind the free Analyte A but not said complex {(A) (Binding Molecule)} for a sufficient time for the .alpha.HE
to bind to the Analyte A;
(c) incubating the sample with a probe antibody .alpha.A* specific for the Analyte A
for a sufficient time to bind to the Analyte A;
(d) detecting the presence or amounts of the complexes {(.alpha.nHE)(A)(.alpha.HE)(.alpha.*)}
and {(.alpha.nHE)(A)(Binding Molecule)(.alpha.A*)}, or free .alpha.A*; and (e) correlating the presence or amounts of {(.alpha.nHE)(A)(.alpha.HE)(.alpha.A*)} and {( .alpha.nHE)(A)(Binding Molecule)(.alpha.A*)} with the presence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample; or correlating the amount of free .alpha.A* with the absence or amount of the Analyte A in the sample.