System and method for diagnosing lymphoma in cats

Abstract

The invention provides a method and a system for diagnosing lymphoma in cats. The system allows a care giver to measure the enzymatic activity of thymidine kinase in a blood sample. The invention teaches that when the enzymatic activity of thymidine kinase in the blood stream of a cat is above 15.5 Units per liter, the cat has a high probability of having lymphoma. The invention allows for initial diagnosis, follow up after treatment for lymphoma and/or monitoring for example in breeds that prone to have lymphoma.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . A system for diagnosing lymphoma in cats comprising:
 means for obtaining a quantity of blood from a cat;   means for obtaining a portion said quantity of blood containing thymidine kinase;   means for measuring in said portion of said quantity of blood an activity of thymidine kinase; and   means for determining a high probability for said cat to have lymphoma if said amount of thymidine kinase is present at an activity level of at least 15.5 units per liter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for mixing said portion with a mixture of a substrate having 3′-derivative of thymidine, a phosphate donor and a buffer system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 means for obtaining a phosphorylated product derived from said substrate; 
 means for attaching a magnetized marker to said phosphorylated product; 
 means for applying a magnetic field to retain said phosphorylated product; 
 means for washing said phosphorylated product; and 
 means for measuring the luminescence of said product. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for obtaining at least 150 micro-liter of serum of said portion of said quantity of blood. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for obtaining a portion of blood that contains all TK isoenzymes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for separating a serum portion from a cells portion of said quantity of blood. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a centrifuge. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for determining a low probability for said cat to have lymphoma if said thymidine kinase is present at an activity levels below 15.5 units per liter.