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Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide and optionally has multi-well features and improved evanescent field intensity. The preferred biosensor and assay method have the capture molecules immobilized to the waveguide surfa

Methods and apparatus for evanescent light fluoroimmunoassays are disclosed. The apparatus employs a planar waveguide and optionally has multi-well features and improved evanescent field intensity. The preferred biosensor and assay method have the capture molecules immobilized to the waveguide surface by site-specific coupling chemistry. Additionally, the coatings used to immobilize the capture molecules provide reduced non-specific protein adsorption.

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What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for performing assays, comprising: a light source providing light in a desired wavelength range; a biosensor including a planar waveguide comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, and a side end between said first and second surfa

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for performing assays, comprising: a light source providing light in a desired wavelength range; a biosensor including a planar waveguide comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, and a side end between said first and second surfaces, said side end receives said light and conveys said light into a remainder of said planar waveguide; a plurality of capture molecules immobilized to said first surface, each of said capture molecules including a binding site which selectively binds at least one selected analyte; and a light detector positioned to detect light passing through said second surface of said planar waveguide. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said planar waveguide is coated with a coating that inhibits nonspecific binding. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said coating comprises at least one of a polymethacryloyl polymer, a polyethylene glycol polymer, and an avidin. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first surface receives the sample. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light detector detects fluorescent light emitted by said component. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light detector comprises at least one of a charge-coupled device, a photomultiplier, a semiconductor photodiode, and array of photomultipliers, and an array of semiconductor photodiodes. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an optical element for directing said light into side end of said planar waveguide. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said optical element comprises at least one lens. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one lens comprises a curved surface. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of capture molecules forms an array of reaction sites on said first surface of said planar waveguide. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein binding of said at least one selected analyte by at least one of said capture molecules is detectable within an excitation zone adjacent to said first surface of said planar waveguide. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein constituents of a sample that are located outside of said excitation zone are not detected. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light detector is positioned within a cone of collection angles having an axis oriented substantially orthogonal to said second surface of said planar waveguide. 14. An apparatus for performing assays, comprising: a light source providing light in a desired wavelength range; a biosensor including a planar waveguide comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, and a side end between said first and second surfaces, said side end receives said light and conveys said light into a remainder of said planar waveguide; and a light detector positioned within a cone of collection angles originating at or adjacent to at least one of said surface and said second surface and having an axis oriented substantially orthogonal to at least one of said first surface and said second surface of said planar waveguide. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first surface of said planar waveguide receives the sample. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said biosensor further comprises a plurality of capture molecules on said first surface, each capture molecule of said plurality of capture molecules having a binding site which selectively binds at least one selected analyte. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said biosensor further includes at least one sample reservoir to contain said sample adjacent to at least a portion of said first surface. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising at least one gasket surrounding said at least one sample reservoir for preventing said sample from leaking from said at least one sample reservoir. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one gasket is formed of a resilient material having an index of refraction less than an index of refraction of said planar waveguide. 20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said plurality of capture molecules forms an array of reaction sites on said first surface of said planar waveguide. 21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said light detector is positioned to receive light passing through said second surface of said planar waveguide. 22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said planar waveguide is at least partially coated with a coating that inhibits nonspecific binding. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said coating comprises at least one of a polymethacryloyl polymer, a polyethylene glycol polymer, and an avidin. 24. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an optical element for directing light into said planar waveguide. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said optical element comprises at least one lens. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said at least one lens comprises a curved surface. 27. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said light detector comprises at least one of a charge-coupled device, a photomultiplier, a semiconductor photodiode, an array of photomultipliers, and an array of semiconductor photodiodes. 28. An apparatus for performing assays, comprising: a light source providing light in a desired wavelength range; a biosensor including a planar waveguide comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, and a side end between said first and second surfaces, said side end receives said light and conveys said light into a remainder of said planar waveguide; and a plurality of capture molecules forming an array of reaction sites on said first surface, each of said capture molecules including a binding site which selectively binds at least one selected analyte. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said first surface receives the sample. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a light detector. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said light detector is positioned to detect light passing through said second surface of said planar waveguide. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein binding of said at least one selected analyte by at least one of said capture molecules is detectable within an excitation zone adjacent to said first surface of said planar waveguide. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein constituents of a sample that are located outside of said excitation zone are not detected.