MICROPARTICLE ENHANCED LIGHT SCATTERING AGGLUTINATION ASSAY AND MICROPARTICLE REAGENTS THEREFOR

摘要

The invention relates to a new microparticle enhanced light scattering agglutina tion assay for determining the amount of an analyte, and a microparticle reagent for perfor ming that assay. The microparticle enhanced light scattering agglutination tests are quasihomogeneous and do not need a separation and washing step. They thus meet t he requirements for the automation with commonly used clinical chemistry analyzers or dedicated nephelometers. Such tests provide an increased sensitivity by a factor of 2 to 3 orders of magnitude (down to 10-11 mol/l analyte) compared to direct agglutinat ion tests not using microparticles and, in addition, less matrix interference and higher f lexibility. The specification provides a microparticle enhanced light scattering agglutinati on assay for determining the amount of an analyte which comprises using a mixture of part icles of strong light scattering properties carrying at least one binding partner of high reactivity for the analyte and particles of weak light scattering properties carrying at le ast one binding partner of low reactivity for the analyte. The assay of the invention sh ows an unexpectedly high dynamic range (DR).