Method and apparatus for detection of antibodies and antigens

A dignostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• coating a metal film onto a substrate material;
• contacting said substrate material with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific antibody to coat all or part of said substrate material with a monomolecular layer of said specifically reacting antigen;
• immersing said coated substrate material in said sample;
• placing a mercury drop on the upper surface of said layer on said substrate material;
• and
• measuring the electrical capacitance between said mercury drop and said metal coating.

A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• coating a metal film onto a substrate material, said metal being capable of forming a visible amalgam with mercury;
• contacting said substrate material with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific antibody to coat all or part of said substrate material with a monomolecular layer of said specifically reacting antigen;
• immersing said coated substrate material in said sample;
• placing a mercury drop on the upper surface of said layer on said substrate material;
• and
• measuring the time elapsing between said placing of a mercury drop and the appearance of a visible amalgam.

A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• coating a metal film onto a substrate material;
• contacting said substrate material with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific antibody to coat all or part of said substrate material with a monomolecular layer of said specifically reacting antigen;
• immersing said coated substrate material in said sample;
• coating a second metal layer onto the upper surface of said layer on said substrate material;
• and
• viewing said substrate by reflected light.

A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• depositing indium as metal globules onto a light transmissive substrate material by evaporation from a tantalum boat at a vacuum of approximately 5 .times. 10.sup.-5 mm of mercury;
• contacting said substrate material with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific antibody to coat all or part of said substrate material with a monomolecular layer of said specifically reacting antigen;
• immersing said coated substrate material in said sample;
• and
• examining said coated substrate material to determine whether said substrate has a bimolecular or monomolecular layer adhering thereto.

A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• evaporating a metal having high atomic mobility and poor surface wetting characteristics as metal globules onto a light transmissive substrate material;
• contacting said substrate material with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific antibody to coat all or part of said substrate material with a monomolecular layer of said specifically reacting antigen;
• immersing said coated substrate material in said sample;
• placing said substrate material, oriented with said metal and said layer downwards, onto a surface of a light reflecting liquid;
• and
• examining said substrate to determine whether said substrate has a bimolecular or monomolecular layer adhering thereto.

A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• contacting a substrate material with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific antibody to coat all or part of said substrate material with a monomolecular layer of said specifically reacting antigen;
• immersing said coated substrate material in said sample;
• and
• immersing said substrate material in an immunological bond-cleaving reagent while observing said substrate in an ellipsometer.

A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• contacting a substrate material having a metallic surface with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific protein;
• immersing the resulting substrate material in said sample;
• and
• examining said substrate with electrical capacitance sensing means to determine whether said substrate has a bimolecular or monomolecular layer adhering thereto.

A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• contacting a substrate material having a metallic surface with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific antibody to coat all or part of said substrate with a monomolecular layer of said specifically reacting antigen, said metallic surface comprising a first electrode;
• immersing the resulting substrate material in said sample;
• placing a second electrode on the upper surface of said layer;
• and
• measuring the electrical capacitance between said first and second electrodes.

A diagnostic method for determining the presence or absence of a specific antibody in a biological sample comprising the steps of:

• contacting a substrate material having a metallic surface with an aqueous medium containing a corresponding specifically reacting antigen to said specific antibody to coat all or part of said substrate with a monomolecular layer of said specifically reacting antigen;
• immersing the resulting substrate material in said sample;
• and
• examining said substrate employing a chemical sensing means to determine whether said substrate has a bimolecular or monomolecular layer adhering thereto.

Medical diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• a substrate member;
• a plurality of metal globules attached to a surface of said substrate member;
• and
• a monomolecular layer of a immunologically reactive composition overlying at least a portion of said substrate and said metal globules.