Patent ID: 6121055
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for detecting the presence or amount of an analyte within a sample, comprising:combining a sample with a partial reaction mixture to form an incomplete assay mixture, said incomplete assay mixture being in contact with a primary layer;subjecting the incomplete assay mixture to conditions sufficient to cause any insoluble components to separate form the incomplete assay mixture;combining additional reaction components with the incomplete assay mixture to form a complete assay mixture in contact with said primary layer, said complete assay mixture containing one or more binding components and label, at least some of said label and some of said analyte binding to said binding components, said binding components and unbound label being immiscible with and of different density than said primary layer, said primary layer being immiscible with water, and serving to separate bound from unbound label by allowing the penetration of binding components without allowing the penetration of unbound label;subjecting said complete assay mixture to conditions sufficient to cause said binding components and said unbound label to separate; anddetecting the label bound to said binding components and therefrom determining the presence or amount of said analyte.