Abstract: An initial rate photometric immunoassay method useful for detecting and quantifying analytes in various physiological fluids is disclosed. The method is carried out by combining in a liquid medium an undiluted sample of analyte-containing physiological fluid, such as serum, and an excess of an anti-analyte antibody. A substantially constant initial rate of increase of the liquid medium's turbidity, due to the resulting immunoprecipitation reaction, is measured in real time and compared to a calibration curve prepared from known analyte concentrations to detect and quantify the analyte. Detection and quantification of numerous analytes including, haptens, drugs and proteins, in a wide variety of physiological fluids can be rapidly carried out by the present method.

Abstract: A novel heterogenous purification method is disclosed. The method removes a macromolecule from a liquid by allowing the macromolecule to undergo a specific binding affinity reaction with a bidentate conjugate. The method is carried out by immobilizing the bidentate conjugate on a solid phase, contacting the bidentate conjugate with the liquid comprising the macromolecule, and separating the immobilized bidentate conjugate from contact with the liquid, thereby removing the macromolecule from the liquid to obtain either purified macromolecule or a purified liquid.