Patent ID: 7816092

Claim:
A method for performing a rapid cell-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA), comprising the steps of: (a) lysing cells in a quick lysis and coating buffer, wherein the quick lysis and coating buffer comprises water and a metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and rubidium hydroxide; (b) coating a solid phase with cellular proteins released in situ in the quick lysis and coating buffer; (c) blocking the solid phase with a blocking reagent dissolved in a quick blocking buffer, wherein the quick blocking buffer comprises water and a metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and rubidium hydroxide; (d) (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; incubating the solid phase with a secondary detection agent in solution; washing the solid phase to remove any unbound secondary detection agent; incubating the solid phase with a tertiary detection agent in solution; 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.