SAMPLE DETECTION TO INITIATE TIMING OF AN ELECTROCHEMICAL ASSAY

摘要

. AN ELECTROCHEMICAL ASSAY INCLUDES A METHOD FOR DETERMINING WITH GREAT ACCURACY THE TIME AT WHICH AN APPLIED SAMPLE BRIDGES A GAP BETWEEN THE ELECTRODES OF AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL. THE METHOD INVOLVES APPLYING A CONSTANT SMALL CURRENT ACROSS THE GAP, WHILE MONITORING THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ELECTRODES. THE TIME AT WHICH THE SAMPLE BRIDGES THE GAP IS MARKED BY A SHARP DROP IN THE POTENTIAL. A CONSTANT VOLTAGE IS APPLIED AFTER THE SAMPLE IS DETECTED, AND THE CURRENT AND/OR CHARGE THROUGH THE SAMPLE IS MONITORED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. FROM THE MEASURED CURRENT OR CHARGE, THE ANALYTE CONCENTRATION OF INTEREST CAN BE CALCULATED.