INSTRUMENT TO DETECT NEAR-INFRARED FLUORESCENCE IN SOLID-PHASE IMMUNOASSAY

The construction of a near-infrared (near-IR) fluorescence detector for measuring picomolar levels of near-IR laser dyes is described. The detector is designed for use in an immunoassay technique that employs antibodies labeled with near-IR polymethine cyanine dyes. These dyes possess spectral properties that are exclusive to the near-IR region (650-1100 nm). The instrumentation is characterized, including its hardware and data acquisition software components. The detector is capable of measuring fluorescence in both solution and solid-phase environments. Data on the detector's performance is presented.