Features To Look For In ELISA Test Kits

By Annabelle Holman


Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay is a procedure in biochemistry that is utilized to determine whether there are antibodies or antigens in a sample. For several years this procedure has been used as a tool for diagnosis in medicine and pathology. There are ELISA test kits that are meant to use for fertility, cancer, steroid, allergies, parasitology, diabetes, thyroid as well infectious and autoimmune diseases.

Before buying ELISA units you have to guarantee they meet a few prerequisites. You have to get the right test arrangement. It is crucial to have the right compartments and additionally the design for your analysis should be good. There are many formats to choose from when you are getting started on your project.

One of the most common formats is referred to as sandwich assay. It is named so because there are two different antibodies that sandwich the antigen. This format is popular because it is robust and sensitive. There are many times when this format is not appropriate especially if the antigen is small. It is difficult to attach antibodies which are bulky to a small antigen.

The next feature you need to consider is the types of antibodies. You can utilize polyclonal antibodies as well as monoclonal antibodies in ELISAs. At times it is advisable to use a combination of both. There are several factors you need to consider when choosing antibodies. When you using a sandwich assay then you might want to try the polyclonal antibody for the capture process and the monoclonal ones for detection. By doing this you will able to capture all antigens and then utilize the antibodies that are monoclonal to detect specific antigens.

You need to make sure that the capture and detection antibodies are matching. The two should not compete for the same site on the antigen. Instead they should recognize varying epitopes on the antigen. Your results will be skewed if you do not ensure there is no interference. There are ways of ensuring this does not happen. The most recommended way is to get a pair that is already matched from the supplier. You can use the internet to find antibody suppliers.

Cross reactivity as well as interference is another feature to look for. Cross reactivity can be caused by antibodies that are on the host animal being compatible. It is not hard to purchase antibodies that are obtained from the animal in question. However, consider it important to find out if cross reactivity might pose a problem. In the sandwich format the secondary antibody that is utilized for the detection process must be right for the primary antibody that was utilized during detection.

It is also important to figure out what is in the blocking as well as the washing buffers. Sometimes they may contain compounds that are likely to alter interaction of the antibodies and the antigens. The final factor to consider is detection. There are several ways of detecting binding. You need to find a kit that utilizes detection that you prefer.

On the off chance that you need to figure out more about the features you can ask for details from delegates from the organizations that offer the units. They will be happy to advise you all the more about them and how to utilize them. The web is likewise a wellspring of details.




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