[Time-resolved fluorescence of europium ions and its application for determination of biologically active substances]

At present radioimmunoassay is still one of the most widely used analytical procedure. It is, however, continuously challenged by a number of non-isotopic techniques. This article reviews the measurement of europium chelates with high sensitivity using time-resolved fluorescence and its use as labels in immunoassays of protein and peptide hormones, haptens, virus antigens and for detection of inborn metabolic errors. It can be concluded that the time-resolved fluorescence detection of lanthanides and their chelates has been applied in a wide variety of both routine and research application. This technique is anticipated to gain wide use for measurement of numerous anylates of different origin. In immunoassays time-resolved fluorometry is one of the most promising alternatives available in the non-isotopic field.