Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of performing an assay for an analyte in a sample which method comprises providing a chromatographic medium, forming a reaction mixture containing a labelled reagent present partly in a form which is mobile on said medium and partly in a form which is immobile on said medium, the proportions of the two forms being determined by the amount of the analyte in the sample, applying the reaction mixture to a spot on the chromatographic medium, causing the mobile form of the labelled reagent to migrate from the spot, and thereafter observing one or both of the mobile and immobile forms of the labelled reagent.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of performing an assay for an analyte in a sample which method comprises providing a chromatographic medium, forming a reaction mixture containing a labelled reagent present partly in a form which is mobile on said medium and partly in a form which is immobile on said medium, the proportions of the two forms being determined by the amount of the analyte in the sample, applying the reaction mixture to a spot on the chromatographic medium, causing the mobile form of the labelled reagent to migrate from the spot, and thereafter observing one or both of the mobile and immobile forms of the labelled reagent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chromatographic medium is in sheet form, with the reaction mixture being applied to a spot on the sheet and the mobile form of the labelled reagent being caused to migrate radially from the spot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein migration is assisted by subsequent application to the spot of a solvent which causes mobile species, but not immobile species, to migrate through the chromatography medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the solvent is an aqueous liquid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reaction mixture is formed by causing the analyte in the sample, and a labelled version of the analyte, to compete for reaction with a limited amount of a specific binder for the analyte, the analyte/ specific binder complex being rendered insoluble.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the analyte/specific binder complex is rendered insoluble by reaction of the specific binder with its antibody, said reaction being effected before, during or after incubation with the analyte and labelled analyte.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
54 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reaction mixture is formed by causing the analyte in the sample to bind to an excess of an immobilised specific binder and a labelled specific binder for the analyte is caused to bind to vacant binding sites of the analyte.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 or claim 7, wherein the specific binder has been immobilised by attachment to a particulate solid phase.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reaction mixture is formed by incubating the sample containing the analyte with labelled particles carrying a specific binder for the analyte whereby the analyte causes agglutination of the particles.