Taxol immunoassay

1. An immunoassay method for detecting taxol in a sample providing a mixture of a sample, containing an antibody selectively reactive with taxol and not substantially cross-reactive with both 6-α-hydroxypaclitaxel and 3′-p-hydroxypaclitaxel and a conjugate of a carrier or a polyamine polymer with a compound of the formula:

wherein A is

Y is an organic spacing group;

X is a terminal functional group capable of binding to said carrier or said polyamine polymer;

p is an integer from 0 to 1; and

Ph is phenyl

or compounds of the formula:

wherein X, Y and p are as above and B is

or mixtures thereof,

causing the taxol in the sample and said conjugate to bind with said antibody and thereafter measuring the amount of said conjugate in said mixture which is bound or unbound to said antibody whereby the presence of taxol in the sample can be determined.

2. The immunoassay method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a human sample.

3. The immunoassay method of claim 2 , wherein said antibody is generated from an immunogen comprising an immunogenic polymer linked to a compound of the formula:

wherein p, X, Y and A are as in claim 1 ;

or a compound of the formula:

wherein p, Y, X and B are as in claim 1 ;

and mixtures thereof.

4. The immunoassay method of claim 2 , wherein the antibody is attached to a solid support.

5. The immunoassay method of claim 4 , wherein the solid support is microtiter plates.

6. The immunoassay method of claim 4 , wherein the solid support is nanoparticles.

7. An antibody which binds selectively to taxol and does not substantially bind to both 6-α-hydroxypaclitaxel and 3′-p-hydroxypaclitaxel.

8. The antibody of claim 7 , wherein said antibody is derived from mice, rabbits or rats.

9. The antibody of claim 7 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

10. The antibody of claim 7 , wherein said antibody is derived from an immunogen of a polyamine polymer with a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula:

wherein A is

Y is an organic spacing group;

X is a terminal functional group capable of binding to a polyamine polymer;

p is an integer from 0 to 1; and

Ph is phenyl

or compounds of the formula:

wherein X, Y and p are as above and B is

or mixtures thereof.

11. The antibody of claim 10 , wherein said antibody is derived from mice, rabbits or rats.

12. The antibody of claim 10 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

13. The antibody of claim 11 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

14. A kit for determining the presence of taxol in a patient sample comprising reagents in separate containers, the first of said containers containing as a reagents a conjugate of a carrier or a polyamine polymer with a compound selected from the groups consisting of compounds of the formula:

wherein A is

Y is an organic spacing group;

X is a terminal functional group capable of binding to said carrier or said a polyamine polymer

p is an integer from 0 to 1; and

Ph is phenyl

or a compound of the formula:

wherein X, Y and p are as above and B is

and mixtures thereof; and a second container containing an antibody substantially selectively reactive with taxol and not substantially cross-reactive to both 6-α-hydroxypaclitaxel and 3′-p-hydroxypaclitaxel.

15. The kit of claim 14 , wherein said conjugate is present in a predetermined amount in said first container.

16. The kit of claim 15 , wherein said kit is used to determine the amount of taxol in said sample.

17. The kit of claim 14 , wherein, said antibody is generated from an immunogen of an immunogenic polyamine polypeptide linked to a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula:

wherein A, Y, X and p are as in claim 11

compounds of the formula:

wherein p, Y, X and B are as in claim 11 ;

or mixtures thereof.