Ultrasensitive immunoassay techniques.

Ultrasensitive detection of clinically important substances using assays based on ligand:binder interactions has revolutionized laboratory medicine. Various strategies have been perfected to push the analytical sensitivity of ligand:binder assays (e.g., immunoassay, blotting, nucleic acid hybridization assay) into the attomole and zeptomole region (10(-18)-10(-21) mol). These include the use of labels with amplifying properties (e.g., enzymes), multiple labeling, and cascade reactions. In addition a wide range of ultrasensitive luminescent detection reactions have been developed for conventional enzyme labels based on chemiluminescent, bioluminescent, and time-resolved fluorescent reactions.