What Is The Elisa Test? Here's What You Should Know
ELISA is the abbreviated version of three words that may not mean anything to you: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Although it's not a popular term, it actually has many applications as a diagnostic tool. In this article, we will talk more about the ELISA tool and its many uses
Aside from being diagnostic tool in medicine and plant pathology, it is also used in quality-control in various industries. HIV/AIDS is diagnosed using the ELISA test.
Before the introduction of the ELISA, your best option for performing an immuno assay was radio immunoassay, a method using radioactive antigens or antibodies. In radio immuno assay, the radioactivity offers the signal, which signifies whether a particular antigen or antibody exists within the sample.
Because radioactivity poses a possible health threat, a much safer alternative had to be found.
An ELISA test uses aspects of the immune system to identify immune reactions in your body (for instance, to infectious microbes). The ELISA test involves an enzyme (a protein that catalyzes a biochemical reaction) and am antibody or antigen (immunologic molecules).
ELISA exams are broadly employed to identify substances which have antigenic qualities, mainly proteins (instead of small molecules and ions, for example, glucose and potassium). The substances detected by ELISA tests include the body's hormones, microbial antigens and antibodies.
You will find versions from the ELISA test, however the most fundamental type includes an antibody mounted on a good surface. This antibody will latch onto the substance being tested for like, for instance, human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG, the protein which signifies pregnancy. A combination of purified HCG and an enzyme plus the test sample (bloods or urine) are put into the exam system. If no HCG exists within the test sample, then only the HCG with the linked enzyme will bind. The greater HCG that's contained in the exam sample, the less enzyme-bound HCG will be found. If there's a significant presence of HCH, an indicator will show it, like in the case of a pregnancy test kit. Read more here about enzyme immunoassay.
ELISA exams are generally accurate tests. They're considered highly sensitive when compared to other techniques that used for identifying substances in your body, for example radio immune assay (RIA) tests. They also offer the additional benefit of not requiring radio isotopes or radioactive substances. Also, they are not expensive. If you've ever bough test kits of any kind, you already know how cheap they are.
If you're wondering just how sensitive ELISA tests are, let's take a look at the case of HIV tests.A person suspect of HIV is usually tested first with an ELISA test. If the test shows positive results, the test is repeated to confirm that diagnosis. If the test is negative, all other tests aren't needed to confirm the negative result. The ELISA has proven itself to be accurate in negative results, even if a person has only been affected for a few weeks.
If you need more information on the ELISA test, you will find plenty of academic resources for reference.
Aside from being diagnostic tool in medicine and plant pathology, it is also used in quality-control in various industries. HIV/AIDS is diagnosed using the ELISA test.
Before the introduction of the ELISA, your best option for performing an immuno assay was radio immunoassay, a method using radioactive antigens or antibodies. In radio immuno assay, the radioactivity offers the signal, which signifies whether a particular antigen or antibody exists within the sample.
Because radioactivity poses a possible health threat, a much safer alternative had to be found.
An ELISA test uses aspects of the immune system to identify immune reactions in your body (for instance, to infectious microbes). The ELISA test involves an enzyme (a protein that catalyzes a biochemical reaction) and am antibody or antigen (immunologic molecules).
ELISA exams are broadly employed to identify substances which have antigenic qualities, mainly proteins (instead of small molecules and ions, for example, glucose and potassium). The substances detected by ELISA tests include the body's hormones, microbial antigens and antibodies.
You will find versions from the ELISA test, however the most fundamental type includes an antibody mounted on a good surface. This antibody will latch onto the substance being tested for like, for instance, human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG, the protein which signifies pregnancy. A combination of purified HCG and an enzyme plus the test sample (bloods or urine) are put into the exam system. If no HCG exists within the test sample, then only the HCG with the linked enzyme will bind. The greater HCG that's contained in the exam sample, the less enzyme-bound HCG will be found. If there's a significant presence of HCH, an indicator will show it, like in the case of a pregnancy test kit. Read more here about enzyme immunoassay.
ELISA exams are generally accurate tests. They're considered highly sensitive when compared to other techniques that used for identifying substances in your body, for example radio immune assay (RIA) tests. They also offer the additional benefit of not requiring radio isotopes or radioactive substances. Also, they are not expensive. If you've ever bough test kits of any kind, you already know how cheap they are.
If you're wondering just how sensitive ELISA tests are, let's take a look at the case of HIV tests.A person suspect of HIV is usually tested first with an ELISA test. If the test shows positive results, the test is repeated to confirm that diagnosis. If the test is negative, all other tests aren't needed to confirm the negative result. The ELISA has proven itself to be accurate in negative results, even if a person has only been affected for a few weeks.
If you need more information on the ELISA test, you will find plenty of academic resources for reference.