DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT FLUORESCENCE IMMUNOTESTS

摘要

The invention relates to a device and a method for carrying out especially quantitative fluorescence immunotests by exciting an evanescent field. These fluorescence immunotests can be based on a wide range of known biochemical assays of general receptor-ligand systems. Light from at least one light source is directed at an angle alpha onto the boundary surface of two media with different refraction indices. The light source chosen should be one which emits almost monochromatic light with one wavelength, said wavelength being suitable for exciting a tracer material. The light is directed onto a boundary surface (20) located between an optically transparent base plate (1) consisting of material with a refraction index n1 greater than the refraction index n2 of the material above said boundary surface (20), and a cell-shaped accommodating area (2) for the sample. Said accommodating area (2) is covered with a cover plate (3) on the side facing the base plate (1), at least one functional layer (26, 27, 28, 28', 29) being located between said base plate (1) and said cover plate (3), and a detector (5) for detecting the fluorescent light being positioned on the same side of the base plate (1) as the light source.