Luminescence Immunoassays

This article is an update version of G. Gübitz, M.G. Schmid, IMMUNOASSAYS, TECHNIQUES | Luminescence Immunoassays, Editor(s): Paul Worsfold, Alan Townshend, Colin Poole, Encyclopedia of Analytical Science (Second Edition), Elsevier, 2005, Pages 352–360, ISBN 9780123693976.Immunoassays (IAs) are analytical methods based on the specific recognition between the antigen (Ag), which molecular weight can vary in a wide range, and the variable regions of antibody (Ab), a Y shaped macromolecule composed by four polypeptide chains. IAs are applicable without analytes enrichment, purification, or pretreatment having great advantages over standard methods. Immunoassays relate to medicine, food quality control, forensic veterinary, and environmental analysis. A detectable label conjugated on one or both of the immunoreagents (IRs) reveals the recognition between Ag and Ab. The evolution of IAs corresponded to the evolution of the labeling technology and the optical detection is the simplest way to evaluate the analytical signal.