immunoasisemmenetelmiä

Immunoasaymenetelmiä are laboratory techniques used to detect and measure specific substances, typically antigens or antibodies, in a biological sample. These methods rely on the highly specific binding interaction between an antibody and its corresponding antigen. The principle behind immunoassays is to create a detectable signal that is proportional to the amount of the target substance present.

Various types of immunoassays exist, each employing different detection systems and formats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a widely used method that utilizes an enzyme to generate a colored product, which can be quantified using a spectrophotometer. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) employs radioactive isotopes for detection, offering high sensitivity but requiring specialized handling due to radioactivity. Fluorescence immunoassays (FIA) use fluorescent labels, producing a signal that can be measured with a fluorometer. Chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA) generate light as a result of a chemical reaction, providing a sensitive and rapid detection method. Lateral flow immunoassays, commonly seen in point-of-care tests like pregnancy tests, use a flow system to move reagents across a membrane, leading to a visible color change.

Immunoasaymenetelmiä have broad applications in clinical diagnostics for detecting infectious diseases, hormonal imbalances, and cancer markers. They are also utilized in pharmaceutical research for drug discovery and monitoring, in food safety testing for allergen detection, and in forensic science. The choice of immunoassay depends on factors such as required sensitivity, specificity, sample type, cost, and available equipment.