Apparatus and method for performing an assay

摘要

An apparatus for performing an assay involving binding between two chemical species, comprises first and second units releasably fixable together which define a channel when so fixed, the second unit having a surface to which a first chemical species is bound, the apparatus being adapted for passage through a channel of a fluid containing a second chemical species for binding between the first and second chemical species in a channel. An apparatus (I) for performing an assay involving binding between two chemical species, comprises first and second units that are releasably fixable together which define at least one channel when so fixed, the second unit having a surface to which a first chemical species is bound so that the first chemical species lies in at least one channel, or comprises a first unit having a groove formed in it, a second unit having a surface that closes the groove to form a channel, and first chemical species bound so as to lie within the channel, the apparatus being adapted for passage through at least one channel of a fluid containing a second chemical species for binding between the first and second chemical species in at least one channel. An independent claim is also included for performing an assay involving binding between two chemical species, which involves: (a) providing a channel having a first chemical species bound to it, introducing a sample containing a second chemical species into the channel for binding between the first and second chemical species, determining an amount of the second chemical species from the sample bound to the first chemical species within the channel by using a chemiluminescence detector to detect chemiluminescence within the channel; or (b) providing an apparatus comprising a first unit having a groove formed in it and a second unit having a surface that closes a groove to form a channel, providing together in at least one channel first and second chemical species capable of binding together, and determining a measure of binding undergone between the first and second chemical species.