Application of Magnetic Particles in Immunoassays

Abstract

For many years, the immunological antibody-antigen interaction has been used to determine concentrations of analytes useful in medical diagnostics. Antibody or antigen is typically immobilized onto a solid phase, which traditionally has included filters, tubes, wells or plastic beads. The use of small magnetic particles as the solid phase has revolutionized the field of clinical chemistry by facilitating the development of more sensitive higher-throughput automated immunoassays. Many of today’s automated immunoassay systems rely on magnetic separation.