METHOD FOR INCREASING THE DYNAMIC MEASURING RANGE OF TEST ELEMENTS, ESPECIALLY IMMUNOLOGICAL TEST ELEMENTS, THAT ARE BASED ON SPECIFIC BONDING REACTIONS

摘要

The invention relates to a method for increasing the dynamic measuring range of test elements, especially immunological test elements, especially optically readable immunological chromatography strips, that are based on specific bonding reactions. The invention allows to displace the dynamic test range of especially immunological test elements that are based on specific binding reactions towards higher analyte concentrations without forfeiting sensitivity. For this purpose, at least two zones in or on the test element are provided and contain reagents that produce differently strong detectable signals due to different affinities to the analyte (for example in the case of antibodies that have different affinity to the analyte) or due to different principles of interaction with the analyte or with other reagents involved in the detection of the analyte (for example antibodies directed to the analyte in one zone and analyte or analyte analog in a different zone). The signals in the at least two zones are used for evaluation of the analyte concentration/signal strength correlation and used for determining the analyte by way of a suitable method (correlation).