Signal enhancement system with multiple labeled-moieties

A kit for testing for the presence of an analyte in a test solution comprising:

• (i) (a) a targeting agent, capable of binding, other than by nucleic acid base-pairing interaction, the analyte or a derivative thereof, the targeting agent being provided with a plurality of ligands;
• and
• (b) a plurality of labelling agents, each labelling agent capable of binding a ligand of the targeting agent, and each labelling agent being provided with a label, wherein binding of the labelling agents to the targeting agent forms a labelled targeting agent which does not comprise nucleic acid base-pairing interactions;
• and
• (ii) instructions to bind the labelling agents to the targeting agent to form the labelled targeting agent before capturing the labelled targeting agent as part of a complex in which the labelled targeting agent is bound to the analyte or derivative.

A kit for testing for the presence of an analyte in a test solution, comprising:

• (i) (a) a first reagent comprising a targeting agent, wherein the first reagent is capable of binding, other than by nucleic acid base-pairing interaction, the analyte or a derivative thereof, and wherein the targeting agent is provided with a plurality of ligands;
• and
• (b) a second reagent comprising a plurality of labelling agents, each labelling agent capable of binding a ligand of the targeting agent, and each labelling agent being provided with a label, wherein binding of the labelling agents to the targeting agent forms a labelled targeting agent which does not comprise nucleic acid base-pairing interactions;
• and
• (ii) instructions to mix the first and second reagents in the test solution to form the labelled targeting agent;
• prior to capture and detection of the analyte or derivative.

A method of forming a labelled targeting agent, which comprises:

• i) providing:
• (a) a targeting agent, capable of binding, other than by nucleic acid base-pairing interaction, an analyte or a derivative thereof, the targeting agent being provided with a plurality of ligands;
• and
• (b) a plurality of labelling agents, each labelling agent capable of binding a ligand of the targeting agent, and each labelling agent being provided with a label;
• and
• (ii) binding the labelling agents to the targeting agent to form a labelled targeting agent before capturing the labelled targeting agent as part of a complex in which the labelled targeting agent is bound to the analyte or derivative, wherein the labelled targeting agent does not comprise nucleic acid base-pairing interactions.

A method of forming a labelled targeting agent, which comprises:

• i) providing:
• (a) a first reagent comprising a targeting agent which is capable of binding, other than by nucleic acid base-pairing interaction, an analyte or a derivative thereof in a test solution, the targeting agent being provided with a plurality of ligands;
• and
• (b) a second reagent comprising a plurality of labelling agents, each labelling agent capable of binding a ligand of the targeting agent, and each labelling agent being provided with a label;
• and
• (ii) mixing the first and second reagents in the test solution to form a labelled targeting agent prior to capture and detection of the analyte or derivative, wherein the labelled targeting agent does not comprise nucleic acid base-pairing interactions.