ANALYSIS UTILIZING ISOELECTRIC FOCUSING

摘要

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for determining the presence of one or more analytes in a sample, wherein the presence of a complex of an analyte and an analyte-specific binding moiety is detected at a location in an elongate pH gradient corresponding to a predetermined isoelectric point of the complex in the gradient. An electric field applied across the elongate pH gradient prior to the detection of the complex transports the complex to the location in the pH gradient corresponding to the predetermined isoelectric point. The analyte-specific binding moiety preferably is provided with a detectable label such as a fluorescent label. A parameter, e.g., fluorescence intensity, indicative of the amount of the complex at the location in the pH gradient corresponding to the predetermined isoelectric point may be determined to quantitate the analyte.