Many are still confused of what really the medical terminology ELISA means and how it is being used in disease detection such as HIV or West Nile Virus. ELISA or Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is a biochemical technique; its main purpose is to detect the presence of any kind of antigen in a given sample. Its contribution as a diagnostic tool in medicine and plant pathology as well as a medium of quality control checker in various industries shows the importance that it has brought in the past and it can bring in the future.
In the process, an unknown amount of antigen is attached in a surface, and then a specific antibody is washed over the surface so that it can bind to the antigen. This antibody is linked to a specific enzyme till the enzyme can convert to detectable signal in the final step.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is a useful tool for determining serum antibody concentrations aside from it; it can also be applied in the food industry to detect potential food allergens. It has evolved as a widely-used method for measuring a molecule concentration in fluids such as serum and even urine.
In conducting the ELISA test, you will be needing antibodies fixed to a solid surface, such as the inner surface of a test tube, a preparation of the same antibodies coupled to an enzyme (something that produces a colored product form a colorless substance).
In testing possible exposure to virus and other infectious substances, blood collection is typical. The blood collected is stored into a small glass tube called pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. The sample is being linked to an enzyme. Normal values depend on the type of substance being identified. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.
No comments:
Post a Comment