| abstract |
A method for the separation of the bound and free species of a labeled reagent in an immunometric binding assay involving binding reactions in a liquid reaction mixture among analyte from a liquid test medium, a reagent particle comprising the analyte or a binding analog thereof immobilized to an insoluble particle, and a labeled reagent comprising a specific binding partner for the analyte labeled with a detectable chemical group. Analyte from the test medium binds to the labeled reagent and any of the labeled reagent not so bound binds to the reagent particle which are separated on a reagent particle separation and detection test device comprising a separation zone which is substantially impervious to the reagent particle and a detection zone for receiving the analyte bound to the labeled reagent. The reaction mixture is applied to the separation zone whereby the reagent particle is retained by the separation zone and the analyte bound to the labeled reagent is transported into the detection zone where the detectable chemical group thereof provides a detectable signal which is measured and correlated to the amount of analyte in the liquid test medium. |