The Many Benefits Of Using ELISA Kits

By Harriet Porter


Medical science is advancing in leaps and bounds. New treatments, drugs and procedures are introduced regularly. One of the main areas of studies remains the development of new tests that will help physicians to diagnose diseases quicker. The earlier a condition is diagnosed the bigger the chance that it can be treated successfully. ELISA kits have done much to make the diagnosis of several conditions both easier and quicker.

This revolutionary technique, also known as EIA, or enzyme immunoassay, is conducted in a laboratory. It is used to determine the concentration of antigens or antibodies in a specific sample. The presence and concentration of antibodies is an important indication of the presence of a variety of medical conditions. The test is extremely popular because it is easy to do and many different tests can be processed at the same time.

The presence of antigens or antibodies, or both, in the body is a clear sign of disease. This is because antigens are known as harmful substances. The body is able to detect the presence of antigens and it then immediately start producing antibodies to fight the antigens. It is therefore logical to assume that the presence of either substance indicates the presence of disease.

Patients need not fear this simple test. It only entails the drawing of a small blood sample. This sample is then added to specific antigens in a petri dish. If there is a reaction between the blood sample and the antigen, then the presence of antibodies is confirmed. In fact, the antibodies will combine with the antigens. By adding enzymes it is possible to determine the amount of the antibodies in the sample.

Diagnosticians can get a lot of information form even the most basic EIA test. However, there are several versions or formats of the test and some are much more complex. The direct EIA, for example, requires that the antigen is screened with a multiwall coat. This makes it more difficult for the antibody to recognize the antigen. A result can only be obtained if the antibody is joined with a specific enzyme.

Another important variant of EIA is the indirect test. In this case two stages are engineered by covering the antigens in polystyrene plates. This is done to achieve increased sensitivity. Antibodies are introduced in primary and secondary stages. The test can produce multiple results which means that is saves cost and time. In many cases this test, which is more elaborate, eliminate the need for more tests.

The EIA sandwich test is considered to be suitable for complex samples, especially because the sample does not need to be purified prior to measurement. In this test antibodies are made up in pairs and compared with each other. The test is often done when both direct and indirect detection methods are required. It is an extremely accurate test and is done when serious diseases are suspected.

When all is said and done it is still the early diagnosis of a disease that provides the best chance of recovery and successful treatment. That is why tests such as EIA are so important. They allow doctors to identify the potential or existence of disease at an early stage. This gives the patient a better chance.




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