IMPROVED ASSAY TECHNIQUE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

A method of assaying for a ligand in a sample which comprises incubating the sample in contact with one surface of an optical structure capable of exhibiting surface plasmon resonance, the said surface having adsorbed thereon or bound thereto, either directly or indirectly, a specific binding partner for the ligand it is desired to detect; irradiating the other surface of the optical structure with radiation of an appropriate wavelength; and analysing the reflected radiation in order to determine whether, and if desired the extent to which and/or rate at which, the surface plasmon resonance characteristics of the optical structure are altered by formation of a complex between the ligand and the specific binding partner. An apparatus for detecting one or more ligands in a sample suitable for use in the method of the invention is also provided.