MICROPARTICLE ENHANCED LIGHT SCATTERING AGGLUTINATION ASSAY AND MICROPARTICLE REAGENTS THEREFOR

摘要

The invention relates to a new microparticle enhanced light scatteringagglutination assayfor determining the amount of an analyte, and a microparticle reagent forperforming thatassay. The microparticle enhanced light scattering agglutination tests arequasihomogeneous and do not need a separation and washing step. They thus meettherequirements for the automation with commonly used clinical chemistryanalyzers ordedicated nephelometers. Such tests provide an increased sensitivity by afactor of 2 to 3orders of magnitude (down to 10 -11 mol/l analyte) compared to directagglutination testsnot using microparticles and, in addition, less matrix interference and higherflexibility.The specification provides a microparticle enhanced light scatteringagglutination assayfor determining the amount of an analyte which comprises using a mixture ofparticles ofstrong light scattering properties carrying at least one binding partner ofhigh reactivityfor the analyte and particles of weak light scattering properties carrying atleast onebinding partner of low reactivity for the analyte. The assay of the inventionshows anunexpectedly high dynamic range (DR).