Time-resolved detection of lanthanide luminescence for ultrasensitive bioanalytical assays.

The principles and practice of the application of time-resolved lanthanide chelate luminescence (or fluorescence) as a detection method for ultrasensitive bioanalytical assays such as immunoassays and nucleic acid hybridization assays are reviewed. The various lanthanide chelate-based detection systems which have been developed for use in heterogeneous and homogeneous assay formats are described, including reagents, assay methods, and instrumentation, along with recent improvements in these methods. Detection systems described include those based on dissociative enhancement of lanthanide ions, direct labeling with luminescent chelates, enzyme-amplified lanthanide luminescence, lanthanide luminescence quenching, and energy transfer.