Patent: 5,545,527

Summary for Patent: 5,545,527

Title:	Method for testing for mutations in DNA from a patient sample
Abstract:	A hierarchy of at least two assay techniques is utilized in testing for disease-associated mutations. The first assay in the hierarchy is selected to provide a highly specific test for the existence of the disease-associated mutation, although the accuracy of the test need not be high. The final assay in the hierarchy is selected to provide a highly accurate and highly specific test for the existence of the disease associated mutation. Intermediate tests of progressively greater accuracy may also be included in the hierarchy. Once the hierarchy has been selected for a given mutation-associated disease, a patient sample is analyzed the patient sample using the first, lowest accuracy assay in the hierarchy. If the result of the first assay is negative for the presence of a disease-associated mutation, then the next assay in the hierarchy is performed. This process is repeated until the final assay has been performed on all samples which gave negative results when tested by all less-accurate assays in the hierarchy. The test may be used for diagnosis and targeted screening for p53 mutations and mutations in the RB1 gene.
Inventor(s):	Stevens; John K. (Mississauga, CA), Dunn; James M. (Scarborough, CA)
Assignee:	Visible Genetics Inc. (Toronto, CA)
Application Number:	08/271,946
Patent Claims:	see list of patent claims

Details for Patent 5,545,527

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	For Injection	103132	06/04/1986		2039-02-26
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	For Injection	103132			2039-02-26
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	INTRON A	interferon alfa-2b	Injection	103132			2039-02-26