Patent ID: 6927071

Claim:
An assay for detecting the presence of an analyte of interest in a test sample, comprising: (a) forming a reaction mixture by combining: (i) said test sample; (ii) a known amount of sensitized particles having immobilized thereon an analyte-specific binding partner; and (iii) a known amount of an additive that reduces non-specific aggregation of said particles, wherein said additive comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, trimethanolamine, N-butyldiethanolamine, 3-dimethylamino-2-methylpropyl chloride, N,N-dimethylglycine, N,N-dimethylguanidine, N,N-dimethylglycine ethyl ester, 3-dimethylaminopropionitrile, and N,N-diethylacetamide; (b) incubating the reaction mixture under conditions that allow said particle-immobilized binding partner to bind to said analyte to cause specific aggregation of said particles, wherein said additive is present in an amount sufficient to reduce non-specific particle aggregation; and (c) determining the extent of specific aggregation, wherein the extent is proportional to the amount of said analyte in said sample.