Fluorescence analysis method using fluorescent-activating antibodies

Abstract

An object of this invention is to provide a fluorescence analysis method that enables analysis (including imaging) of in vivo substances, etc., using antigen-antibody reactions to be carried out simply, at high sensitivity, and yet continuously and in real time. This invention's fluorescence analysis method comprises: a mixing step of obtaining a mixed solution of a sample solution and an antibody-dye solution, the sample solution containing an analyte, the antibody-dye solution containing an antibody and a dye at predetermined concentrations respectively, the antibody having an antigen-binding site a part of which recognizes the dye and a remaining part of which recognizes the analyte, the dye being recognized by the antibody and changing from being non-fluorescent to fluorescent upon binding with the antibody; a measurement step of illuminating the mixed solution with excitation light and obtaining a measurement value by measuring an intensity of fluorescence emitted from the mixed solution; and a computation step of determining a concentration of the analyte from the measurement value based on a predetermined relationship between fluorescence intensity and analyte concentration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.