Homogeneous on-line assays using capillary electrophoresis

摘要

A method for conducting heterogeneous specific binding assays during capillary electrophoresis with on-line detection is disclosed herein. One version of the on-line assay system introduces the slowest migrating assay reagent into a capillary column first. This first assay reagent can be either an antigen or an antibody. After a brief period of electrophoresis, a second assay reagent, which can form a specific binding complex with the first assay reagent, is introduced into the column. During a subsequent period of electrophoresis detectable specific binding complexes are formed within the capillary indicating that one of the assay reagents contains a desired analyte. In another version of the method, a third assay reagent is introduced to the capillary column. The presence of an analyte in one of the assay reagents can then be determined using a competitive binding assay. The assay is performed within the capillary where the first and second assay reagents compete for binding with a third assay reagent to form detectable complexes. <IMAGE>