Apparatus for an immunoassay with a magnetic label and SQUID

Abstract

The present invention relates to an immunoassay and an apparatus for the same. A method of the present invention comprises following processes; (1) an analyte is labeled with a magnetic label to detect antigen-antibody reaction, (2) the magnetic material label is magnetized by a magnetic field, (3) the magnetized magnetic material label detected by a SQUID which detect a magnetic field having right angle to the magnetic field. At the same time, the present invention contains an apparatus to execute the method provided by the present invention. The apparatus comprises a magnetic field generation means that generates a magnetic field to magnetize the labels. The apparatus comprises a SQUID that measures magnetic field.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for immunoassay with magnetized label and SQUID, which comprising; a magnetic field generation means which generate a magnetic field to magnetize an analyte labeled by antigen-antibody reaction with magnetic material label, a SQUID which detects a magnetic field having right angle to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic generation means.  
     
     
         2 . An apparatus mentioned in  claim 1 , the magnetic field generated by the generation means is a static magnetic field.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus mentioned in  claim 1 , which comprises a means conveying the analyte to pass trough the detection field of the SQUID.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus mentioned in  claim 3 , the analyte moves parallel to the first magnetic field.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus mentioned in  claim 1 , the magnetic field generation means generates second magnetic field which cancels component of the first magnetic field that is parallel to detecting direction of SQUID.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus mentioned in  claim 1 , the analyte is treated by a support which is sufficiently wide to the detection field of the SQUID.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus mentioned in  claim 1 , the SQUID is formed of an oxide superconducting thin film.