Competitive immunoassay by hot electron-induced electrochemiluminescence detection and using a semiautomatic electrochemiluminometer

A homogeneous immunoassay of T4 was developed using a semiautomatic electrochemiluminometer modified from a commercially available fluorometer. In addition, from the same analyte panel an immunometric immunoassay of TSH at similar disposable oxide-covered aluminum rake electrodes was studied using this instrument both on homogeneous and heterogeneous basis. Detection was based on hot electron-induced cathodic electrochemiluminescence utilizing a commercially available Tb(III) chelate label. The assays were reasonably sensitive and comparison was made with other older methods. Thus, it is possible to develop both non-competitive and competitive immunoassays based on detection of hot electron-induced ECL of the labels.