Patent ID: 6344336
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An assay method for detecting a product in a sample, said method comprising the steps of:a) feeding the sample and a reagent with a detectable moiety into a fluid pathway; b) allowing the sample and reagent to interact as they flow down the pathway, to form a mixture of the sample, the reagent and, when the product is present in the sample, a product-reagent complex, said mixture formed upstream of a barrier located within said fluid pathway and extending across a cross section thereof; c) flowing the mixture to said barrier, said barrier retains any product-reagent complexes formed in step b), but allows passage of uncomplexed sample and reagent therethrough; d) subsequently breaking down the retained complexes to release said detectable moiety for passage through the barrier; and e) detecting said released detectable moiety downstream of the barrier.