TIME-RESOLVED FLUOROMETRY - PRINCIPLES AN D APPLICATIONS IN CLINICAL-CHEMISTRY

Time-resolved fluorometric assay is based on lanthanide fluorescence. This time-resolved fluorescence has a narrow-band emission line whose wavelength differs from that of emission-pulsed light and has a long d ecay-time. These characteristics make it possible to avoid background interference from sample constituents (protein, light-scattering parti cles, etc). Europium and its chelates are the most commonly used lanth anides. The europium-labeling of antigens or antibodies is followed by immunoassay. In the final step, fluorescence is measured, after enhan cement, as counts per second. This assay has several advantages, inclu ding a wide working range, high sensitivity and good practicability. T he method has widespread applications in the field of immunoassays in both clinical and research laboratories. The use of non-radioactive eu ropium-labelled probes and the development of simultaneous multiple te sts are possible future orientations.