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.
