Microcapillary-Based Flow-Through Immunosensor and Displacement Immunoassay Usingthe Same

摘要

The present invention is related generally to immunosensors, and morespecifically to immunosensors for flow-through displacement immunoassays. Immunoassays exist in a variety of formats that utilize the interaction of antibodies with antigens usually including direct binding, competitive and sandwich assay schemes. The continuous flow immunoassay is a unique displacement assay that measures the dissociation of a fluorescently labeled antigen from an antibody bound on a solid support when the antigen flows past the antibody (USP 5,183,740, issued February 2, 1993 to Ligler et al., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.) The displacement of the labeled antigen is proportional to the quantity of antigen present in the sample. Sensitivity of the assay is dependent on the dissociation constant of the antibody and the probability of antigen-to-antibody interaction in the flow system.