Patent ID: 6723516
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for determining the presence or quantity of a preselected analyte in a flowing liquid stream which contains or is suspected of containing the analyte, which method comprises:(a) continuously contacting the flowing liquid stream with an on-line system which comprises: (i) a piezoelectric surface wave sample device comprising a receptor layer attached to the surface thereof wherein the receptor layer consists essentially of a receptor species complementary to the analyte and which device generates data relating to the mass change on the surface of the device arising from contacting the device with the flowing liquid stream; and (ii) a piezoelectric surface wave reference device comprising a receptor layer having little or no affinity for the analyte and which generates data as to the interference arising from contacting the device with the flowing liquid stream; (b) continuously obtaining data from both the sample and reference devices; and (c) continuously, and contemporaneously with step (a), determining the presence, quantity, or both the presence and quantity of the analyte in the liquid sample.