ELISAmenettelyillä

ELISAmenettelyillä, commonly referred to as Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, is a laboratory technique used to detect and quantify substances, such as peptides, antibodies, and proteins, in a liquid sample. The core principle of ELISA relies on the specific binding of an antibody to its target antigen. In a typical ELISA, a microplate is coated with either an antigen or an antibody. A sample containing the substance of interest is then added, allowing it to bind to the immobilized molecule.

Following this initial binding step, a second antibody, which is linked to an enzyme, is introduced. This enzyme-linked antibody also binds specifically to the target substance. The presence of the enzyme is crucial because it will later be used to generate a detectable signal. After washing away any unbound antibodies, a substrate is added. The enzyme attached to the antibody converts this substrate into a colored product or another measurable signal, such as fluorescence or luminescence.

The intensity of the signal is directly proportional to the amount of the target substance present in the original sample. This signal can then be measured using a spectrophotometer or other appropriate detection instrument. Different types of ELISA exist, including direct, indirect, sandwich, and competitive ELISA, each adapted for specific applications and sample types. ELISA is widely used in various fields, including medical diagnostics for detecting diseases like HIV and Lyme disease, in food safety for allergen detection, and in research for quantifying proteins and other biomolecules.