Systems and Methods for Immunosorbent Assays for Single and Multiple Analytes

A system for immunologically analyzing a continuously flowing fluid for at least one analyte, the system comprising:

• a conduit for conveying a flow of fluid to be analyzed, the fluid to be analyzed comprising target antigens;
• a reservoir containing a tagged antibody fluid, the tagged antibody fluid comprising an inert fluid and a plurality of tagged antibodies;
• a means for mixing the flow of fluid to be analyzed with a flow of the tagged antibody fluid, whereby tagged antibodies may bind with target antigens;
• a scavenger chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet for receiving and discharging a flow of the mixed fluids;
• a structural element configured to move through the scavenger chamber;
• a supply of scavenger antigens for depositing on the moving structural element, whereby the scavenger antigens bind to excess unbound tagged antibodies in the scavenger chamber, thereby removing them from the fluid flow;
• and
• a means for detecting the quantity of target antigens bound to tagged antibodies in the discharged fluid flow.

A method for immunologically analyzing a sample for a micro-organism, the micro-organism having a somatic antigen and a flagella antigen together comprising target antigens, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing scavenger antigens into a well and binding them to the well;
• (b) introducing test fluid into the well to form a solution, the step of introducing test fluid comprising the steps of:
• (i) introducing bound pairs of scavenger antibodies and tagged antibodies into the well;
• (ii) introducing the micro-organism into the well;
• (c) agitating and retaining the solution in the well to allow binding to occur first between the tagged primary antibodies and the target antigens on the micro-organism and second, in the absence of sufficient target antigens on the micro-organisms, between the scavenger antibodies and the scavenger antigens;
• and
• (d) immediately after agitating the well and while retaining the solution in the well, detecting tagged antibodies bound to target antigens on the micro-organism that remain suspended in the solution in the well.

A method for immunologically analyzing a sample for a single analyte comprising the steps of:

• introducing scavenger antigens into a well in a first fixed position;
• introducing target antigens into a well in a second fixed position apart from the first fixed position of the scavenger antigens;
• introducing tagged antibodies into the well, the tagged antibodies in flow communication with both the first and second fixed positions;
• whereby flow communication of the tagged antibodies allows binding to occur first between the tagged antibodies and the target antigens in the second fixed position, and second, in the absence of sufficient target antigens, between the tagged antibodies and the scavenger antigens in the first fixed position;
• and
• detecting tagged antibodies bound to target antigens in the second fixed position in the well.

A method for immunologically analyzing a sample for multiple analytes comprising the steps of:

• introducing scavenger antigens into a well in a first fixed position;
• introducing target antigens into a well in a second fixed position apart from the first fixed position of the scavenger antigens;
• introducing bound pairs of scavenger antibodies and tagged primary antibodies into the well, the tagged antibodies in flow communication with both the first and second fixed positions;
• whereby flow communication of the tagged antibodies allows binding to occur first between the tagged primary antibodies and the target antigens in the second fixed position, and second, in the absence of sufficient target antigens, between the scavenger antibodies and the scavenger antigens in the first fixed position;
• and
• detecting tagged antibodies bound to target antigens in the second fixed position in the well.