In the past ten years, numerous applications of fluorescence methodsfor monitoring homogeneous and heterogeneous immunoassays
have been reported. Advances in the design of fluorescent labels have prompted thedevelopment of various fluorescent immunoassay
schemes such as the substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay and the fluorescence excitation transfer immunoassay. As sophisticated
fluorescence instrumentation forlifetime measurement became available, the phase-resolved and time-resolved fluorescent immunoassays
have also developed. With the current emphasis on satellite and physician’s office testing, future innovations in fluorescence
immunoassay development will be expected to center on the implification of assay protocol and the development of solid-state
miniaturized fluorescence readers for on-site testing.