| abstract |
A kit and a method for performing a competitive immunoassay utilize nucleic acid oligonucleotide chains for the detection of analytes, such as drugs, substances of abuse, hormones, poisons, organic compounds, peptides, proteins and the like. The kit includes a hapten-oligonucleotide complex, a complementary oligonculeotide chain for conjugating with the hapten-oligonucleotide complex, an antibody specific for the hapten and a flourescent label such as ethidium bromide having an affinity for nucleic acid duplexes formed from the hapten-oligonucleotide complex and the complementary oligonucleotide chain. A means for detecting the presence of the florescent label such as a U.V. transilluminator, U.V. lightbox and fluorescence spectrophotometer is utilized to detect color intensity and fluorescence of the dye. The method can be performed in solution, or on a solid "dipstick" on which the reagents for the immunoassay have been immobilized. |