Patent ID: 6136545
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for determining a first subpopulation of an analyte in a sample liquid which contains at least two subpopulations of the same analyte, comprisingincubating the sample liquid with(a) a first receptor which is immobilized on a particulate carrier, wherein the first receptor binds to a first epitope which is present on the members of each of the analyte subpopulations, wherein the first epitope is only present once per member, and(b) a second receptor which binds to a second epitope which is present only on members of the first subpopulation, wherein the second receptor has at least two binding sites for the second epitope and wherein each of the at least two binding sites binds to a different member of the first analyte subpopulation to form a cross-linked structure, anddetermining the first analyte subpopulation by determining the cross-linked structure.