The present invention provides a method of quickly and accurately
detecting and/or assaying an antigen using fluorescence correlation
spectroscopy (FCS), which involves a fluorescence-labeled antibody
fragment and a non-fluorescence-labeled intact antibody that form a
complex with the antigen. There is a significant difference in diffusion
rate between the fluorescence-labeled antibody fragment not bonded to the
antigen and the complex formed by the the fluorescence-labeled antibody
fragment, the antigen, and the non-fluorescence-labeled intact antibody,
and this diffusion rate can be determined using FCS. The antigen can be
an antigenic protein, such as an abnormal prion or a harmful protein
contained in a food material. According to this method, antigens over a
wide scope can be assayed regardless of the shape or molecular weight.