This invention provides methods of using ion-detecting microspheres containing an ionphore and a chromoionphore in clinical laboratory instrumentation such as flow cytometry for sample analysis. In one embodiment, the microspheres are contacted with a flowing stream of a sample under conditions that allow the ion-selective ionophores to complex with the ions in the sample, and to cause deprotonation of the chromoionophore. The complexes are then exposed to an excitation wavelength light source suitable for exciting the deprotonated chromoionophore to emit a fluorescence signal pattern. Detection of the fluorescence signal pattern emitted by the deprotonated chromoionophore in microspheres containing the complexes allows for determination of the presence of the target ions in the sample. In one embodiment, lead ion-detecting microspheres are provided that can detect nanomolar levels of lead ions with response times on the order of minutes.
                            本发明提供了在临床实验室仪器(如流式细胞仪)中使用含有离子亲体和发色团的离子检测微球进行样品分析的方法。在一个实施方案中,将微球与流动的样品流接触,使离子选择性亲离子与样品中的离子复合,并引起亲色团的去质子化。然后将复合物暴露在适合激发去质子化的发色团的激发波长光源下,使其发出荧光信号图案。通过检测含有络合物的微球中去质子化的发色团发出的荧光信号图案,可以确定样品中是否存在目标离子。在一个实施方案中,提供的
铅离子检测微球可检测纳摩尔级的
铅离子,响应时间约为几分钟。