METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING AN ANALYTE IN A SAMPLE

摘要

A method for determining an analyte in a sample comprises the steps of: (i) providing the sample in liquid phase, the analyte comprising a ligand having at least one anti-ligand specific recognition site; (ii) providing at least one reagent containing metal particles in suspension in liquid phase and non-separable from said liquid phase by magnetic or electromagnetic means, each particle having a metal core to which at least one anti-ligand is fixed directly or indirectly; (iii) contacting the sample and the reagent, optionally with another reagent; (iv) placing the metal clusters in a magnetic field; (v) detecting the metal clusters to obtain a signal representative of the mass of metal in said clusters, correlated with the quantity of analyte in the sample initially, the mass of metal being detected using a magnetic or magnetisable sensor generating the field according to (iv), placed close to the sample and moved or subjected to a force caused by the assembled metal clusters, giving a movement or force signal representative of the metal mass of the clusters. A device for implementing the method is also disclosed.