Abstract A competitive protein binding method is provided for the determination of an analyte which is a member of an immunological pair consisting of ligand and receptor for the ligand. A chemiluminescent source is employed comprised of one or more individual members, one chemiluminescent source member being conjugated to one of the members of the immunological pair, so as to provide chemiluminescence adjacent to the site of conjugation. A quencher molecule is conjugated to a member of the immunological pair. When the members of the immunological pair bind, the quencher molecule is brought within quenching distance of the chemiluminescent source so as to inhibit the emission of light by the chemiluminescent source. The amount of analyte present in the assay medium affects the amount of binding between the members of the immunological pair which results in quenching of the chemiluminescence. By observing the light emitted from the assay medium, either from the chemiluminescent source or the quencher, the change in light emission in relation to the concentration of analyte present in the assay medium can be used to determine the amount of analyte present in the assay medium. By employing standards having known amounts of analyte, the amount of analyte in an unknown sample can be quantitatively determined. Reagent kits can be provided having predetermined amounts of the reagents, so as to substantially optimize the sensitivity of the assay.
A diagnostic kit for use in a method for determining in an assay solution, the presence of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing said analyte, said analyte being a member of an immunological pair consisting of ligand and antiligand, said ligand having at least one epitopic site and said antiligand being capable of specifically binding to said epitopic site of said ligand; wherein a light emitting reciprocal pair are employed as labels, said light emitting reciprocal pair consisting of a chemiluminescence source having at least one component and a quencher capable of quenching the light emitted by said chemiluminescence source without collision, said labels being conjugated to members of said immunological pair to form a chemiluminescence label conjugate and a quencher label conjugate, and wherein in said assay solution the amount of quencher brought within quenching distance of said chemiluminescence source is related to the amount of analyte in said assay medium; said kit comprising in relative amount to substantially optimize said method, said chemiluminescence label conjugate and said quencher labeled conjugate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A diagnostic kit for use in a method for determining in an assay solution, the presence of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing said analyte, said analyte being a member of an immunological pair consisting of ligand and antiligand, said ligand having at least one epitopic site and said antiligand being capable of specifically binding to said epitopic site of said ligand; wherein a light emitting reciprocal pair are employed as labels, said light emitting reciprocal pair consisting of a chemiluminescence source having at least one component and a quencher capable of quenching the light emitted by said chemiluminescence source without collision, said labels being conjugated to members of said immunological pair to form a chemiluminescence label conjugate and a quencher label conjugate, and wherein in said assay solution the amount of quencher brought within quenching distance of said chemiluminescence source is related to the amount of analyte in said assay medium; said kit comprising in relative amount to substantially optimize said method, said chemiluminescence label conjugate and said quencher labeled conjugate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A kit according to claim 1, wherein said chemiluminescence source component is an enzyme.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A kit according to claim 2, wherein said enzyme is conjugated to said ligand.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A kit according to claim 1, wherein said chemiluminescence source component and said quencher dye are both conjugated to antiligand.