Features To Look For In ELISA Test Kits

By Annabelle Holman


To determine if antigens and antibodies exist in a specific sample you need a biochemistry procedure referred to as Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The procedure has been in use for many years in the field of pathology and medicine. ELISA test kits are used for allergies, diabetes, steroids, cancer, parasitology, thyroid, fertility, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases.

There are features that you should look for when buying ELISA kits. The first thing is the assay format. You need to ensure that you get the right format for your experiment. It is also important to ensure that you get the right container system. Normally ELISAs are done in 384 or 96 well plates but there are several other formats.

The sandwich assay is popular with many people. The reason why it is referred to as a sandwich is because there is an antigen which is placed between two antibodies. This kind of arrangement is preferred because of its sensitivity and robustness. In some cases this format is not preferred. If you have a small antigen then you will find it hard to attach heavy antibodies on it.

The type of antibodies you are working with are also put into consideration. In ELISAs you can use both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. There are cases that call for a combination of both. When choosing antibodies there are several factors to look at. For capture it is advisable to use the polyclonal antibodies and the monoclonal antibodies for the detection process. If you follow this tip you should be able to capture all the antigens and then use monoclonal antibodies to identify some 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.

Another factor to consider is interference and cross reactivity. If antibodies on the animal are compatible this could cause cross reactivity. It is easy to get antibodies for the animal that you are working with. You should always note if the cross reactivity might cause any issues. When you are working with the sandwich format it is important to match the primary detection antibodies with the secondary ones that are used for detection.

You should find out the washing as well as the blocking buffers. At times you might find a compound that will affect interaction of antigens and antibodies. You should consider detection as well. Binding can be detected using several methods. Find a kit that has the kind of detection you would like.

All these features can be explained in details. If you have any questions you should address them to the company representatives. They have a lot of knowledge about the kits and which situations they are best used in. You can also read the technical specifications online.




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