How ELISA Kits Help Specialists To Diagnose Diseases Quicker And More Efficiently

By Jocelyn Davidson


In the medical field, new medicines, treatment methods and procedures are introduced at such a dazzling pace that even medical experts struggle to stay up to date. In the field of diagnostics many advances have also been made. If a disease can be diagnosed during its early stages it is easier to treat and the chances of success are much better. ELISA kits have proven to be a major breakthrough. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay enables diagnosticians to recognize certain conditions quickly.

The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, or EIA as it is known for short is performed in a laboratory. The test is easy to run and many tests can be performed at the same time. The purpose of the test is to measure the concentration of both antigens and antibodies in the blood sample. The ability to measure this concentration is a very important part of the diagnostic process.

When there are antibodies present in a blood sample it means that the body has produced them to counteract the effects of a harmful substance, called antigens. If there are antibodies present, it is certain that there are also antigens because the antibodies are only produced when a threat is detected. By identifying the specific type of antibody produced by the body it is also possible to determine the exact nature of the threat.

Patients experience no pain when the test is administered. A small quantity of blood is taken and then sent to a laboratory where a technician has already prepared a number of petri dishes, each containing a different antigen. The blood sample is then added to the dishes. If the antibodies in the blood samples react to any of the antigens they can be identified.

There are different variations of the EIA test but the more complex tests provide much more accurate results. Each type of test requires a different kit. The direct EIA test, for example is straightforward and results are available very quickly. In this case the antigens are coated with multiwall plates and the antibody can only react with the antigen once it has been conjugated with enzymes.

The indirect EIA test is much more sensitive. In this case a polystyrene plate is used to cover the antigen. The antibody can only detect the antigen during two well controlled stages. The advantage of this test is that both primary and secondary antibodies can be identified at the same time. This ability may eliminate the need for further tests, thus saving both time and money.

The sandwich EIA test requires the antibodies to be matched in pairs. The first one is covered with polystyrene and the role of the second antibody is to act as a detection agent. The main purpose of this test is to find out what the concentration of the analyte is. It is an extremely accurate test and can be used to diagnose latent diseases.

There can be little doubt that EIA test is an important tool that can help doctors to quickly and effectively diagnose a variety of diseases. The fact that the test even allow for the diagnosis of latent diseases means that many lives can be saved and treatment can be offered when there is still a good chance of success.




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