Elisa

Elisa (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a popular laboratory technique used in immunology. It is used to detect the presence of an antibody or an antigen in a sample. The ELISA has been used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and plant pathology, as well as a quality-control check in various industries.

History

The ELISA was first developed in the early 1970s by two separate research groups: one led by Peter Perlmann and Eva Engvall at Stockholm University in Sweden, and the other by Anton Schuurs and Bauke van Weemen in The Netherlands.

Procedure

The ELISA involves an enzyme (a protein that catalyzes a biochemical reaction). It also involves an antibody or antigen (immunologic molecules) which are linked to an appropriate enzyme. The enzyme can react with a colorless substrate to produce a colored reaction product. The color change shows that the antigen or the antibody is present.

Types of ELISA

There are four major types of ELISA:

• Direct ELISA
• Indirect ELISA
• Sandwich ELISA
• Competitive ELISA

Each type of ELISA has its advantages and disadvantages. The choice of which to use depends on the specifics of the situation.

Applications

ELISA is used in both diagnostic and research settings. In diagnostics, it is used to detect infectious diseases, allergies, and autoimmune disorders. In research, it is used to measure protein concentrations in samples.

See Also

• Immunology
• Antibody
• Antigen
• Enzyme