Patent ID: 8227380

Claim:
Method for quantitatively and/or qualitatively detecting one or more components in a sample, each component capable of binding to a probe, comprising steps in the following order: (a) applying one or more samples onto a solid support, (b) contacting the solid support after step a) with one or more biotin-labeled probes, (c) contacting the solid support after step b) with a complex of streptavidin and/or avidin and non-covalently bound-metal particle, (d) contacting the solid support after step c) with a conjugate comprising: one or more biotins, one or more polymers, and metal particles bound to said polymer, forming an association between the sample bound to the solid support of step a), the biotin-labeled probe of step b) the metal particle complex of step c), and the conjugate of step d), wherein the complex of step c) and conjugate of step d) amplify interaction between the probe and the component to be detected, (e) optionally contacting the solid support with a metal enhancement reagent, and (f) reading the solid support after step d) or e) to quantitatively and/or qualitatively detect said component.