Patent ID: 6093536
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of assaying for a ligand in a sample which method comprises the steps of:incubating, simultaneously or in any desired sequence,a) the sample containing the ligand;b) a reagent X; andc) a reagent Y immobilized directly or indirectly on the surface of an optical structure capable of exhibiting surface plasmon resonance,one of reagents X and Y comprising a specific binding partner to the ligand and the other of reagents X and Y comprising either a ligand analogue or a specific binding partner to the ligand, reagent X being such that any formation of a direct or indirect complex between reagents X and Y results in an optical surface having an appreciably enhanced optical thickness as compared to the optical thickness of the optical surface which would prevail in the absence of reagent X,which method includes the step of determining whether and, if desired, the extent to which and/or rate at which the wavelength of the Wood's Anomaly exhibited by the optical structure is altered during the assay.