COMPOSITIONS
The invention generally relates to compositions that include magnetic particles bound to pathogens in a body fluid.
1 . A composition comprising a pathogen to which a plurality of magnetic particles are attached, said particles having at least about 70% magnetic material by weight, and wherein said particles are sufficient in number for specific detection of said pathogen over background.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the particles are about 200 nm in diameter.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material is Fe 3 O 4 or FePF.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the pathogen is a bacterium.
5 . The composition of claim 4 , wherein the bacterium is a bacterium found in human blood.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the particles are conjugated with antibodies.
7 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the antibodies are monoclonal antibodies.
8 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the antibodies are polyclonal antibodies.
9 . A blood sample comprising a plurality of magnetic particles conjugated to pathogen-specific antibodies, wherein said particles comprise from about 65% to about 99.9% magnetic material by weight; and wherein said particles confer a high magnetic moment on pathogen present in said sample upon attachment to said pathogen.
10 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the particles are about 200 nm in diameter.
11 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic material is Fe 3 O 4 or FePF.
12 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the pathogen is a bacterium.
13 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the bacterium is a bacterium found in human blood.
14 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the antibodies are monoclonal antibodies.
15 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the antibodies are polyclonal antibodies.
16 . A blood sample comprising a plurality of antibody conjugated particles, said particles comprising at least about 65% magnetic material by weight.
17 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the particles are about 200 nm in diameter.
18 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the magnetic material is Fe 3 O 4 or FePF.
19 . A magnetic particle, wherein the particle comprises at least about 70% magnetic material and is about 200 nm in diameter.
20 . The particle of claim 19 , wherein the magnetic material is Fe 3 O 4 or FePF.