TIME-RESOLVED DETECTION OF LANTHANIDE LUMINESCENCE FOR ULTRASENSITIVEBIOANALYTICAL ASSAYS

The principles and practice of the application of time-resolved lathan ide chelate luminescence (or fluorescence) as a detection method for u ltrasensitive bioanalytical assays such as immunoassays and nucleic ac id hybridization assays are reviewed. The various lanthanide chelate-b ased detection systems which have been developed for use in heterogene ous and homogeneous assay formats are described, including reagents, a ssay methods, and instrumentation, along with recent improvements in t hese methods. Detection systems described include those based on disso ciative enhancement of lanthanide ions, direct labeling with luminesce nt chelates, enzyme-amplified lanthanide luminescence, lanthanide lumi nescence quenching, and energy transfer.