ELISAtesteillä

ELISA testeillä, often referred to as ELISA tests, are a common laboratory technique used for detecting and quantifying substances such as antibodies, antigens, and proteins in a sample. ELISA stands for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. The principle behind ELISA relies on the specific binding of antibodies to their target antigens.

In a typical ELISA, a surface, usually a microplate, is coated with either an antigen or an antibody. A sample containing the substance of interest is then added. If the substance is present, it will bind to the immobilized component. A second antibody, often conjugated with an enzyme, is then introduced. This enzyme-linked antibody will bind to the captured substance, or to the first antibody if the antigen was immobilized. A substrate is then added, which the enzyme converts into a detectable signal, usually a color change. The intensity of this color is proportional to the amount of the target substance present in the original sample.

ELISA tests are widely used in various fields, including medical diagnostics for detecting infectious diseases (like HIV or Lyme disease), allergy testing, and pregnancy tests. They are also employed in research for protein quantification and in the food industry for detecting allergens or contaminants. The versatility and sensitivity of ELISA make it a valuable tool in many scientific and medical applications.