Features To Look For In ELISA Test Kits

By Annabelle Holman


To determine if antigens and antibodies exist in a specific sample you need a biochemistry procedure referred to as Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The procedure has been in use for many years in the field of pathology and medicine. ELISA test kits are used for allergies, diabetes, steroids, cancer, parasitology, thyroid, fertility, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases.

There are features that you should look for when buying ELISA kits. The first thing is the assay format. You need to ensure that you get the right format for your experiment. It is also important to ensure that you get the right container system. Normally ELISAs are done in 384 or 96 well plates but there are several other formats.

The sandwich assay is popular with many people. The reason why it is referred to as a sandwich is because there is an antigen which is placed between two antibodies. This kind of arrangement is preferred because of its sensitivity and robustness. In some cases this format is not preferred. If you have a small antigen then you will find it hard to attach heavy antibodies on it.

The next feature you need to consider is the types of antibodies. You can utilize polyclonal antibodies as well as monoclonal antibodies in ELISAs. At times it is advisable to use a combination of both. There are several factors you need to consider when choosing antibodies. When you using a sandwich assay then you might want to try the polyclonal antibody for the capture process and the monoclonal ones for detection. By doing this you will able to capture all antigens and then utilize the antibodies that are monoclonal to detect specific antigens.

It is important to confirm that the detection and capture antibodies are making a good team. When using a sandwich assay it is important to ensure that the detection and capture antibodies are not competing for one binding site. They should be able to recognize various epitopes which are not overlapping. If there is any interferences then the results will be skewed. A sure way of avoiding this problem is buying an already matched pair. You will find many antibody suppliers who can help you out.

Cross reactivity as well as interference is another feature to look for. Cross reactivity can be caused by antibodies that are on the host animal being compatible. It is not hard to purchase antibodies that are obtained from the animal in question. However, consider it important to find out if cross reactivity might pose a problem. In the sandwich format the secondary antibody that is utilized for the detection process must be right for the primary antibody that was utilized during detection.

You should find out the washing as well as the blocking buffers. At times you might find a compound that will affect interaction of antigens and antibodies. You should consider detection as well. Binding can be detected using several methods. Find a kit that has the kind of detection you would like.

All these features can be explained in details. If you have any questions you should address them to the company representatives. They have a lot of knowledge about the kits and which situations they are best used in. You can also read the technical specifications online.




About the Author: