Abstract: An apparatus for performing a binding assay for an analyte of interest in a sample based upon measurement of clectrochemiluminescence at an electrode surface comprising: (a) a cell defining a sample; (b) an electrode adjacent a portion of the sample containing volume; (c) a voltage control device for impressing electrochemical energy upon the electrode sufficient to generate luminescence; (d) means for magnetically collecting particles along the electrode surface; and (e) a light detection device for measuring the luminescence.

Abstract: Detectable compounds comprising a chemically-transformable first compound covalently linked to an electrochemiluminescent compound are provided. Such compounds are useful in processes and kits that monitor the status of the first compound and derive information from such monitoring. A rapid single step assay suitable for the detection or quantification of &bgr;-lactam antibiotics and &bgr;-lactamases. The assay can be performed directly on samples of food, such as milk and meat, blood or serum and is useful in determining the suitability of a particular antibiotic in treating a particular bacterial infection and in diagnosis of a bacterial infection. The assay is also useful in determining and quantifying &bgr;-lactam antibiotic resistance. The assay can be performed on an IGEN OrigenR Analyzer.

Abstract: Qualitative and quantitative electrochemiluminescent assays for analytes of interest present in multicomponent liquids are provided. These methods comprise contacting a sample with a reagent labeled with an electrochemiluminescent chemical moiety and capable of combining with the analyte of interest, exposing the resulting sample to electrochemical energy and detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electrochemiluminescent chemical moiety.

Abstract: A method of generating a electrochemiluminescent emission, which comprises exposing an electrochemiluminescent label linked to a coreactant, to conditions suitable for inducing electrochemiluminescence; said compound; a system for generating an electrochemiluminescent emission, which comprises said compound, means for exposing said compound to electrochemical energy, and means for detecting or measuring luminescence emitted from said compound or a composition containing same; and a kit for performing an assay using said compound.

Abstract: A composition suitable for use in an ECL assay and kits therefor wherein electromagnetic radiation emitted by said composition is detected, which composition comprises (a) a metal-containing ECL moiety which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, is capable of being converted to an excited state from which electromagnetic radiation is emitted upon exposure of the excited ECL moiety to conditions sufficient to induce said emission; (b) an amine or amine moiety which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, forms a strong reducing agent in said composition; and (c) an electrolyte capable of functioning as a medium in which said ECL moiety and said amine or amine moiety can be oxidized by exposure to electrochemical energy.

Abstract: Apparatus for the conduct of electrochemiluminescence measurements includes an ECL chamber having a transparent window defining one wall of the chamber and a photodetector mounted closely adjacent thereto. An assay fluid is subject to a magnetic field and is electrically energized. Electrochemiluminescence induced in the fluid is measured by the photodetector.

Abstract: Prodrugs that are activated by and conjugated to a catalytic antibody conjugated to a moiety that binds to a tumor cell population are provided.

Abstract: A method for assaying a sample for a nucleic acid damaging activity using at least one singular double-stranded nucleic acid with at least one electrochemiluminescent label, and a method for measuring an inhibitor of a nucleic acid damaging activity with at least one singular double-stranded nucleic acid using at least one electrochemiluminescent label, are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the conduct of electrochemiluminescence measurements includes an ECL chamber having a transparent window defining one wall of the chamber and a photodetector mounted closely adjacent thereto. An assay fluid is subject to a magnetic field and is electrically energized. Electrochemiluminescence induced in the fluid is measured by the photodetector.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are methods for selecting a recombinant virus, phage or cell expressing a catalytic antibody or catalytic portion thereof, or for selecting catalytic activity by a moiety. The method employs reaction-based selection for catalytic activity. The method can also be used to concentrate (increase the proportion of catalytic to non-catalytic moieties) a sample containing a catalytic moiety or viruses, phages or cells expressing a catalytic moiety. The selection or concentrating can be by employing a mechanism-based inhibitor, catalysis-accelerated movement, surface binding, changes in enthalpic component of binding as a function of temperature, or changes in binding by competition, or combinations thereof. The invention also comprehends a method for producing a recombinant virus or a cell-line expressing a catalytic moiety such as a catalytic antibody or catalytic portion thereof; and, this method can include infecting a suitable host with viruses which are screened for the expression.

Abstract: A process for exponentially amplifying a selected nucleic acid sequence present in a sample, comprising the steps of forming a mixture of the sample and a single primer designed to hybridize with the selected nucleic acid sequence; causing the single primer to hybridize to a single strand of the nucleic acid sequence of interest; forming a duplex product of the nucleic acid by a polymerase reaction; separating the duplex product into single strands; and repeating the preceding steps until the rate of production of the amplification product is exponential and the nucleic acid sequence of interest has been amplified.

Abstract: Detectable compounds comprising a chemically-transformable first compound covalently linked to an electrochemiluminescent compound are provided. Such compounds are useful in processes and kits that monitor the status of the first compound and derive information from such monitoring.

Abstract: A method for the detection or quantitation of a water-borne parasite, such as Cryptosporidia. The detection or quantitation is accomplished by an electrochemiluminescence assay comprising the steps of filtering water to obtain a sludge thought to contain the parasite or a fragment thereof; extracting a sample of said sludge in a extraction medium to form antigenic derivatives of said parasite; forming an assay mixture comprising a sample of said extracted sludge and an antibody specific to said antigenic derivative; incubating said assay mixture to permit binding of said antibody and said antigenic derivative; and conducting an electrochemiluminescence assay for the bound complex of antibody and antigenic derivative, thereby detecting or quantitating the Cryptosporidia in said water.

Abstract: A chemical moiety is disclosed which comprises a chemical, biochemical, or biological substance attached to one or more electrochemiluminescent organometallic compounds. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the substance is attached to one or more ruthenium-containing or osmium-containing luminescent organometallic compounds. Methods are disclosed for detecting low concentrations of the chemical moiety using chemiluminescent, electrochemiluminescent, and photoluminescent means. Compounds are disclosed which are useful for labeling substances of interest with ruthenium-containing and osmium-containing labels or other electrochemiluminescent labels. These labeled substances are useful in methods provided for detecting and quantifying analytes of interest in binding assays and competitive binding assays. The labeled substances are of particular use in homogeneous binding assays.

Abstract: An electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based assay for the quantitation of classical clinical chemistry analytes, where glucose, ethanol, carbon dioxide, cholesterol, as H.sub.2 O.sub.2 liberating systems coupled to a tris(bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) Ru(bpy).sub.3.sup.2+ luminophore generate an ECL signal, which can be detected spectrophotometrically or electrochemically. The H.sub.2 O.sub.2 present reacts with oxalate in the presence of Ru(bpy).sub.3.sup.2+ to give an ECL response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring electrochemiluminescence from a sample composition are described wherein magnetically responsive electrochemiluminescent active species are captured on the electrode with the aid of a capture magnet having a configuration such that the magnetic flux lines (or the magnetic field gradient) of at least one magnetic field source therein are compressed and/or dispersed. This capture magnet improves the distribution of the magnetically responsive electrochemiluminescent active species on the electrode surface and reduces interference with the photomultiplier tube, thereby enhancing the ECL signal and improving sensitivity. The improved capture and distribution also allows for shorter assay times.

Abstract: An electrode can be derivitized by contacting it with a derivitizing solution to make it more sensitive to a desired analyte signal as opposed to interfering signals in an assay. Particularly, in an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay the working electrode can be derivitized to be more sensitive to desired analyte signals, as opposed to interfering non-bound conjugate or serum matrix signals.

Abstract: A rapid single step assay suitable for the detection or quantification of .beta.-lactam antibiotics and .beta.-lactamases. The assay can be performed directly on samples of food, such as milk and meat, blood or serum and is useful in determining the suitability of a particular antibiotic in treating a particular bacterial infection and in diagnosis of a bacterial infection. The assay is also useful in determining and quantifying .beta.-lactam antibiotic resistance. The assay can be performed on an IGEN Origen.RTM. Analyzer.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are methods for selecting a recombinant virus, phage or cell expressing a catalytic antibody or catalytic portion thereof, or for selecting catalytic activity by a moiety. The method employs reaction-based selection for catalytic activity. The method can also be used to concentrate (increase the proportion of catalytic to non-catalytic moieties) a sample containing a catalytic moiety or viruses, phages or cells expressing a catalytic moiety. The selection or concentrating can be by employing a mechanism-based inhibitor, catalysis-accelerated movement, surface binding, changes in enthalpic component of binding as a function of temperature, or changes in binding by competition, or combinations thereof. The invention also comprehends a method for producing a recombinant virus or a cell-line expressing a catalytic moiety such as a catalytic antibody or catalytic portion thereof; and, this method can include infecting a suitable host with viruses which are screened for the expression.

Abstract: The invention relates to luminescent chimeric proteins which include a photoprotein and a second protein which may be light- or heavy-chain immunoglobulin, an antigenic peptide, avidin, streptavidin, or protein A. The invention also relates to chimeric protein genes, plasmids containing said gene, and hosts transformed with said plasmid. The invention also relates to a range of highly sensitive immunoassays which use the chimeric proteins.