ABSTRACT
Immunoassay is a powerful technique for quantitative and qualitative analysis of a wide range of analytes. These include peptides, proteins, simple organic molecules, environmental pollutants and pharmaceuticals. Immunoassay has been used since the mid-fifties as an analytical tool and has developed during that time into a mature analytical methodology which is, however, still developing. Its advantages are sensitivity, throughput and, often, selectivity. Immunoassay is capable of very low limits of quantification and allows a very high sample throughput. Selectivity is usually good, but is dependent, however, on the analyte in question; this can limit its usefulness where there are very similar, structurally related molecules present in the matrix.
