The basis of all immunoassays is the interaction of antibodies with antigens. The most widely used immunoassay technique is radioimmunoassay (RIA) which was first developed by Yalow and Berson in 1959. The principle of RIA is elegantly simple. It utilizes a competitve binding reaction between analytes and a radio-labeled analog of the analytes (the tracer) for anti-analyte antibodies. In addition to its exquisite specificity, extraordinary sensitivity, good accuracy and precision, ease and rapidity of assay and simplicity of assay development, the applicability of RIA to a wide variety of substances has made it one of the most powerful and versatile analytical methods of the 20th century and beyond. Millions of RIA's are being performed annually on clinical, biological and environmental samples in licensed laboratories. In order to expand the use of RIA beyond the confines of these laboratories to areas like physician's offices, patients' homes, economically less developed countries, agricultural fields, large scale and continuing screening tests for infectious diseases, it has become necessary to develop non-isotopic labels. Indeed the last fifteen years have seen the development of a great number of ingenious non-isotopic labels in immunoassay so that a whole new industry capitalizing on the potential market for non isotopic immunoassays has appeared. It is the purpose of this volume to present in depth, state-of-the-art reviews on techniques used in non-isotopic immunoassays. Topics covered include: (1) Enzyme-labeled immunoassay; (2) Luminescene immunoassay; (3) Immunoassay at liquid-solid interface; (4) Membrane immunoassay and (5) "Particle"-mediated immunoassay.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

Thirty years have elapsed since the first description by S. A. BERSON and R. S. Y ALOW of the basic principles of radioimmunoassay (RIA). During this period of time, RIA methodology has been instrumental to the growth of many areas of biomedical research, including endocrinology, oncology, hematology, and pharmacology. It has done so by providing a relatively simple universal tool allowing, for the first time, the detection of endogenous mediators that are present 12 10 in body fluids at concentrations as low as 10- _10- M. The fundamental nature of this discovery and the wide-ranging fall-out of basic and clinical knowledge derived from its application have been acknowledged by the many honors tributed to its pioneers, including the Nobel Prize awarded to Dr. Y ALOW 10 years ago. Although several excellent books have been published during the past decades covering various aspects of RIA methodology, we felt the need, as pharmacologists, for a comprehensive discussion of the methodological and conceptual issues related to the main classes of mediators of drug action and to drugs themselves. Thus, we gladly accepted the challenge provided by the invitation to edit a volume of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology on Radioimmunoassay in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. We tried to balance the emphasis placed on more general aspects of the RIA methodology and that on specific mediators.

Recent advances in biotechnology are changing the study and practice of diagnostic medicine, and have lead to a revival of interest in alternative immunoassays. This situation is mainly due to the advent of monoclonal antibodies, and the use of alternative labels to monitor the reactions. Many laboratory tests are now more efficient than in the past, and others can be carried out in extra-laboratory locations (e.g. the outpatient clinic, ward or home) thus making the subject of greater value to clinicians and practitioners.

The chapters of this book describe numerous successful examples of automation in microbiology, e.g., radiometric detection of bacteremia, instruments for detection of bacteriuria, machines for organism identification and susceptibility testing, and automated antigen and antibody measurement systems. In addition, there are discussions of exciting but not yet proven methodologies such as chromatography, flow cytometry, and other applications of radiometry. There are also important discussions regarding improved means of data communication and ways to improve the clinician‘s use of test results. Lastly, there are candid assessments of the best and worst aspects of the current spectrum of automated instruments for microbiology. It is hoped that the reader of this volume will be left with a feeling of excitement at the possibilities that lie ahead for application of instrument techniques in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.