Electrochemical methods of assay

Abstract

A ligand in a sample can be assayed using electrochemical apparatus containing a working electrode and components comprising: (a) the sample, (b) a specific binding partner to the ligand, or a specific binding partner to the ligand and selected from ligand analogues and specific binding partners, and (c) an electron-source or electron-acceptor; at least one of components (b) being labelled with an electron-transfer mediator capable of aiding the transfer of electrons between the electron-source or electron-acceptor and the working electrode by accepting electrons from the electron-source and donating them to the working electrode, or accepting the electrons from the electrode and donating them to the electron-acceptor. The method includes the step of determining whether, and, if desired, the extent to which, the said transfer of electrons is perturbed by at least one of (i) formation of a complex of said ligand with a specific binding partner and (ii) controlled external influence which produces a perturbation of said transfer of electrons as a function of said complex formation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.