Qualitative and quantitative electrochemiluminescent assays for analytes
of interest present in multicomponent liquids are provided. These methods
comprise contacting a sample with a reagent labeled with an
electrochemiluminescent chemical moiety and capable of combining with the
analyte of interest, exposing the resulting sample to electrochemical
energy and detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the
electrochemiluminescent chemical moiety.
Further provided are methods for detecting and identifying the presence of
a multiplicity of analytes in a liquid food or food homogenate. These
methods comprise immersing a diagnostic reagent holder, provided with a
multiplicity of reagents, into the food or food homogenate, removing the
diagnostic reagent holder from the liquid food or food homogenate, and
detecting and identifying the presence of a multiplicity of analytes of
interest bound to the diagnostic reagent holder, thereby detecting and
identifying the presence of a multiplicity of analytes of interest in the
food or food homogenate.
The invention further provides an enzyme immunoassay for coliform
bacteria. This assay comprises inoculating a sample into a suitable
medium for coliform reproduction, immobilizing coliforms present in the
medium to a suitable surface, treating the surface with an antibody
directed to the immobilized coliforms and detecting the presence of the
immobilized coliforms immobilized to a suitable surface.
