Patent ID: 7824867

Claim:
A method for performing a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), comprising the steps of: (a) coating a solid phase with an antigen dissolved in a quick coating buffer for between about two to twenty minutes, wherein the quick coating buffer comprises water and a metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and rubidium hydroxide; (b) blocking the solid phase with a blocking reagent dissolved in a quick blocking buffer for between about two to ten minutes, wherein the quick blocking buffer comprises a metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and rubidium hydroxide; and (c) (i) incubating the solid phase with a primary detection agent in solution; washing the solid phase to remove any unbound primary detection agent; and detecting the presence of an agent bound on the solid phase with a detection system that detects the bound primary detection agent; or (ii) incubating the solid phase with a primary detection agent in solution; washing the solid phase to remove any unbound primary detection agent; incubating the solid phase with a secondary detection agent in solution; washing the solid phase to remove any unbound secondary detection agent; and detecting the presence of an agent bound on the solid phase with a detection system that detects the bound secondary detection agent; or (iii) incubating the solid phase simultaneously with a primary detection agent and a secondary detection agent in solution; washing the solid phase to remove any unbound primary detection agent and secondary detection agent; and detecting the presence of an agent bound on the solid phase with a detection system that detects the bound secondary detection agent; or (iv) incubating the solid phase with a primary detection agent in solution; washing the solid phase to remove any unbound primary detection agent; and incubating the solid phase with a secondary detection agent in solution; washing the solid phase to remove any unbound secondary detection agent; and incubating the solid phase with a tertiary detection agent in solution; and washing the solid phase to remove any unbound tertiary detection agent; and detecting the presence of an agent bound on the solid phase with a detection system that detects the bound tertiary detection agent; or (v) incubating the solid phase simultaneously with a primary detection agent, a secondary detection agent and a tertiary detection agent in solution; washing the solid phase to remove any unbound primary detection agent, secondary detection agent and tertiary detection agent; and detecting the presence of an agent bound on the solid phase with a detection system that detects the bound tertiary detection agent.