The Many Benefits Of Using ELISA Kits

By Harriet Porter


Medical science advances at an astonishing pace on all fronts. The area of diagnostics is one particular field where great efforts are made to devise tests and procedures that can help doctors to diagnose diseases quicker and more accurately. This is important because successful treatment often depends upon an early diagnosis. ELISA kits, for example, have empowered doctors to efficiently detect a wide range of diseases.

EIA, as this technique is also known, is an extremely popular test. This is because it is so easy to carry out and as an added bonus large numbers of tests can be done at the same time. The purpose of the test is to find out what concentration of antigens or antibodies exists in a specific sample. Antigen and antibody concentrations are very important indicators in the diagnostic process.

The importance of being able to detect the presence of antibodies or antigens cannot be overemphasized. Antibodies are proteins that the body produces when a harmful substance in the body is detected. These harmful substances are called antigens. By being able to identify the type of antibody produced by the body, physicians can accurately determine the type of harmful antigens that triggered the production of the antibodies.

The administration of the test is straight forward and painless. A small blood sample is taken from the patient. This sample is then sent to the laboratory where the technician will add the blood sample to an antigen already present in a petri dish. If the blood sample contains antibodies to the antigen, the two substances will bind together. Enzymes are added and the reaction between the antibodies and the antigen is observed.

Diagnosticians can get a lot of information form even the most basic EIA test. However, there are several versions or formats of the test and some are much more complex. The direct EIA, for example, requires that the antigen is screened with a multiwall coat. This makes it more difficult for the antibody to recognize the antigen. A result can only be obtained if the antibody is joined with a specific enzyme.

The indirect IEA test is another example of how this protocol can be used in an advanced manner. In this instance the antigen is actually covered by a polystyrene plate. This forces the antibodies to go through two distinct stages before the antigen is detected. This test allows technicians to identify both primary and secondary antibodies. This is valuable because it may eliminate the need for further expensive tests.

The EIA sandwich test is considered to be suitable for complex samples, especially because the sample does not need to be purified prior to measurement. In this test antibodies are made up in pairs and compared with each other. The test is often done when both direct and indirect detection methods are required. It is an extremely accurate test and is done when serious diseases are suspected.

Nobody will deny the fact that diseases are easier and cheaper to treat if they can be diagnosed at an early stage. Tests such as the EIA help doctors to do just this. Conditions such as HIV, pernicious anemia, syphilis, and many others have been diagnosed early enough to save the lives of the patient, all thanks to this amazing procedure.




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