Radial partition immunoassay

Abstract

In radial partition immunoassay, radial chromatography is used for performing an immunoassay. We describe the application of this technology to the measurement of digoxin in serum by enzyme immunoassay, with the entire testing procedure carried out on glass-fiber filter paper. A sample is applied to a small central area of the filter paper, where it reacts with the antibody to digoxin immobilized there. Subsequently, enzyme-labeled digoxin is applied to react with remaining antibody sites. After incubation, substrate for the enzyme is applied to the center of the reaction area and washed out any unbound label to the periphery of the paper. This step also initiates the enzyme reaction, which is quantified by front-surface fluorescence. A microprocessor-controlled automated instrument has been developed to process the filter paper matrix through the above sequence, and calculate the final result. Total testing time for digoxin is less than 7 min.