Patent ID: 9057723
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising the steps of: providing a transducer having a pyroelectric or piezoelectric element and electrodes which is capable of transducing a change in energy to an electrical signal, a first reagent immobilised on the transducer, the first reagent having a binding site which is capable of binding the analyte or a derivative of the analyte, exposing the sample to the transducer thereby allowing the analyte or a derivative of the analyte to bind to the first reagent to form a first reagent-analyte complex immobilised on the transducer, the binding creating a new reagent-analyte binding region on the first reagent-analyte complex; introducing a second reagent, which does not bind to the first reagent in isolation and does not bind to the analyte in isolation, wherein the second reagent has a label attached thereto which is capable of absorbing the electromagnetic radiation generated by a radiation source to generate energy by non-radiative decay, the second reagent having a binding site which is capable of selectively binding to the new reagent-analyte binding region created on the first reagent-analyte complex, and thereby immobilising the second reagent and label on the transducer; irradiating the sample with electromagnetic radiation; transducing the energy generated by the label into an electrical signal; detecting the electrical signal; and using a time delay between the irradiation of the sample and the generation of the electrical signal to determine the presence of label immobilised on the transducer to thereby indicate the presence of analyte in the sample.