Patent ID: 6030840
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for the spectroscopic determination of chelated lanthanide metal ions bound to a marker which comprises:(a) contacting chelated lanthanide metal ions bound to a marker with a buffered solution comprising a detergent, an enhancer reagent and a polyanion, wherein said buffer maintains the pH of the solution within the range of about 3.5 to about 11.5 and said polyanion is present in sufficient concentration such that said lanthanide metal ions disassociate from said marker and reassociate with said enhancer reagent, thereby transferring said lanthanide metal ions into a highly fluorescent form; and(b) determining the amount of lanthanide metal ion liberated from the marker as a measure of the amount of marker present in said solution by subjecting the solution to a short radiation pulse and detecting the fluorescence of the lanthanide metal ion after the fluorescence from any background source substantially has ceased.