Patent ID: 7358099

Claim:
A process for (1) separating a target biological ligand suspected of being present in dilute concentration in an aqueous fluid and (2) ascertaining whether said target ligand is present, which process comprises the steps of: a) coating with a first biological binding partner for said target biological ligand a group of superparamagnetic particles, which particles comprise a metallic material and have an average mean diameter of at least about 100 nm and are each composed of superparamagnetic subunits, which subunits have an average mean diameter of 1–30 nm and are separately spaced from one another within a covering matrix of nonmetallic, non-magnetic material that is compatible, but non reactive, with said biological ligand and its first biological binding partner, b) immersing the coated superparamagnetic particles from step (a) in a sample of said aqueous fluid which is suspected of containing said target biological ligand and allowing said particles and said fluid to incubate for a time sufficient to allow the target biological ligand, if present, to react with its first biological binding partner coated on said particles, thereby forming complexes, c) exposing said particles to the gradient of a magnetic field, whereby said particles acquire a magnetic charge and are attracted to one another, d) removing said particles from said fluid with a permanent magnet, e) washing said particles, f) releasing said magnetic field and removing said particles, g) adding to said particles a small volume of an aqueous buffer to form a dispersion of said particles in said buffer, h) applying said dispersion from step (g) to the sample receiving end of an inimunochromatographic (“ICT”) device comprising a strip of bibulous material having at least one immoveable stripe of a second binding partner for said ligand affixed permanently thereto at a position near the end of said strip that is opposite its sample receiving end, i) allowing said dispersion to migrate along said strip and contact said at least one immovable stripe of a second binding partner for said biological ligand, whereby target biological ligand on the surface of said particles binds to its second binding partner on said immovable stripe, and j) observing whether a mass of the metallic material from said particles, indicative of the presence of said target ligand in said sample, appears along said immovable stripe.