Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of effecting an electrochemical specific-binding assay of a ligand, either qualitatively or quantitatively, in an apparatus comprising at least one electrode, in which method a labelled component of the assay medium is, at least in part, magnetically held in the vicinity of the electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of effecting an electrochemical specific-binding assay of a ligand, either qualitatively or quantitatively, in an apparatus comprising at least one electrode, in which method a labelled component of the assay medium is, at least in part, magnetically held in the vicinity of the electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes a separation step, whereby bound label may be separated from free label in the assay medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes the step of determining a perturbation in an electrochemical characteristic of components of the assay medium associated with a ligand complexing reaction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a redox centre label, an enzyme label in the presence of an electron-transfer mediator or an electron-transfer mediator label in the presence of an electron donor or acceptor is employed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein ferrocene or a derivative thereof is employed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the labelled component of the assay medium is retained in the vicinity of the working electrode by immobilising at least some of the labelled component on a magnetic support and employing a magnetic working electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ligand is an antibody or antigen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a redox center label, an enzyme label in the presence of an electron-transfer mediator or an electron-transfer mediator label in the presence of an electron donor or acceptor is employed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a redox center label, an enzyme label in the presence of an electron-transfer mediator or an electron-transfer mediator label in the presence of an electron donor or acceptor is employed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the labelled component of the assay medium is retained in the vicinity of the working electrode by immobilising at least some of the labelled component on a magnetic support and employing a magnetic working electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the labelled component of the assay medium is retained in the vicinity of the working electrode by immobilising at least some of the labelled component on a magnetic support and employing a magnetic working electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ligand is an antibody or antigen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ligand is an antibody or antigen.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of effecting an electrochemical specific-binding assay of a ligand, either qualitatively or quantitatively, in an apparatus comprising at least one working electrode, in which method a sample to be tested is brought in contact with the assay medium, the assay medium containing a labelled component which is, at least in part, magnetically held in the vicinity of the working electrode, an electrochemical characteristic of the components of the assay medium associated with a ligand complexing reaction is measured and whether there is, and optionally the extent to which there is, a perturbation in that electrochemical characteristic is determined.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of effecting an electrochemical specific-binding assay of a ligand, either qualitatively or quantitatively, in an apparatus comprising at least one working electrode, in which method a sample to be tested is brought in contact with the assay medium, the assay medium containing a labelled component which is, at least in part, magnetically held in the vicinity of the working electrode, an electrochemical characteristic of the components of the assay medium associated with a ligand complexing reaction is measured and whether there is, and optionally the extent to which there is, a perturbation in that electrochemical characteristic is determined.