| abstract |
A method of detecting the presence of a cell, virus or circulating body component or an antibody thereto in a sample comprises contacting the sample with a regent bound to a solid support, usually a polymer. The reagent may for instance be a carbohydrate, a protein or an antibody. n Having been contacted with the sample, the reagent bound to the solid support is contacted with the same or another reagent coupled to a macromolecular wtaer-insoluble carrier, for instance polymeric microbeads, to which is further multivalently bound a substance which is capable of initiating a reaction having a detectable reaction product. Alternatively, the reagent is coupled to the substance multivalently bound to the carrier. The substance may be an enzyme, antibody or blood clotting factor. n Then, the reagent bound to the solid support is reacted with a compound which is a precursor of a detectable reaction product or capable of initiating a reaction cascade the end product of which is detectable. The compound may be an enzyme substrate, an antigen or a blood clotting factor. If any sample component has become bound to the reagent, a detectable reaction product is formed. |