Immunoassays using support-containing separate antigens and antibodies derived from an immune complex

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A process for the detection of an antigen in a specimen which process comprises: (a) contacting said specimen with a substrate having bound thereon a mixture of antigens and antibodies to said antigen in said specimen, said antibodies and said antigens bound to said substrate being separately bound to said substrate and not in the form of an immune complex, incubating the so-contacted substrate and washing the substrate; (b) contacting the washed material of step `a` with a radioactive material labeled or enzyme labeled antibody, incubating the so-contacted material and washing the same; and (c) effecting radioimmunoassay if said antibody is radioactive or enzyme labeled immunoassay is said antibody is enzyme labeled.
2.
A process according to claim 1, wherein the washed material of step `a` is contacted with a hapten conjugated antibody against said antigen of said specimen, the so-contacted material is incubated and washed and thereafter the resultant washed material is contacted with a radioactive material labeled or enzyme labeled anit-hapten antibody, incubated and washed and radioimmunoassay is effected if said anti-hapten antibody is radio labeled or enzyme labeled immunoassay is effected if said anti-hapten antibody is enzyme labeled.
3.
A process according to claim 1, wherein said substrate having bound thereon a mixture of antigens and antibodies is a protein binding solid support in which the sites free of antigen or antibody are substantially filled with a protein binding site occupier.
4.
A process according to claim 3, wherein said protein site occupier is bovine serum albumin, gelatin, a normal human serum or an animal serum.
5.
A process according to claim 3, wherein said protein binding solid support is derivatized paper or plastic material.
6.
A process according to claim 3, wherein said solid support is a paper derivative.
7.
A process according to claim 6, wherein said paper is a nitrocellulose paper.
8.
A process according to claim 6, wherein said paper is a diazobenzyloxymethyl paper or a diazophenylthioether paper