Rapid nasal assay kit

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assay which can be used on nasal secretions. The assay is used to determine the cause of nasal secretions, for example whether the secretions are due to an allergic reaction or a non-allergic reaction.

1 . A nasal secretion assay kit comprising:
 a. a nasal secretion gathering means; and   b. a reagent which contains one or more substances which will react with the nasal secretion to determine whether said nasal secretion is caused by an allergic reaction or a non-allergic reaction.   
     
     
         2 . A nasal secretion assay test comprising:
 a. a nasal secretion gathering means; and   b. a reagent which will react with a substance selected from the group consisting of IL4, IL13, histamine, LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, eleatase, T2 lymphocytes, IgE, EG2, CCR4, CCR8 or CCR3;   wherein a positive reaction is indicative of allergic rhinitis.   
     
     
         3 . The nasal secretion assay test of  claim 2 , wherein the reagent is a sandwich ELISA comprising:
 a. a capture antibody which will react with the substance to form a complex, and   b. a detection antibody which will react with the capture antibody and substance complex, wherein the capture antibody is labeled either before contacting it with the complex or after contacting it with the complex.   
     
     
         4 . A rapid nasal device for gathering nasal secretions for analysis comprising:
 a. an absorbant material which fits into a nasal vestibule; and   b. an atomizing or aerosoling device comprising a container and a tube, wherein the tube passes through the absorbant material such that when the container is contracted, its contents pass through the tube and irrigates the nose and sinuses, and the contents are then absorbed onto the absorbant material.