High speed microanalysis system

A microanalysis system that combines analyte specific immunoextraction and subsequent capillary electrophoretic analysis was developed. The extraction chamber is filled with a solid support material coupled with antibody fragments that have specific affinity against the analyte molecules. As a model system, an anti-testosterone antibody fragment was developed and applied in the analysis of testosterone. Testosterone was labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) to enhance laser induced fluorescence detection. Anti-testosterone fragments were covalently immobilized on a porous polymer support material. To ensure maximal binding capacity of the immunomatrix, the antibody binding pockets were oriented away from the support material.