Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a simple lab test used to detect and measure a specific substance—usually an antigen (like a viral protein) or an antibody (your immune system’s response)in a sample such as blood or serum. It’s widely used because it’s sensitive, fairly quick, and can be done on many samples at the same time.
It’s used to check if someone has antibodies to an infection.
Fundamental Principles and Mechanisms
ELISA operates on the principle of antigen-antibody interaction coupled with enzymatic signal generation. The core mechanism involves three essential components: (1) specific antibody-antigen binding, (2) separation of bound from unbound material through solid-phase immobilization, and (3) enzyme-catalyzed conversion of substrate to a detectable product.
Use.
Automated ELISA protocols streamline quality control in biopharmaceutical production, ensuring consistency and reliability across manufacturing batches. Signal generation relies on validated enzymatic systems (alkaline phosphatase or HRP) with careful calibration of instrumentation and maintenance of reagent quality.
ELISA is extensively employed for allergen detection, mycotoxin quantification, and pathogen identification in food products.
MBH/PS