ELISA Flashcards
1
Q
What is an ELISA?
A
a technique that is used to detect antibodies or infectious agents such as antigens in a sample
2
Q
What can ELISA indicate?
A
- antibody ELISA testing can indicate if the patient has been in contact with a certain virus
- an antigen ELISA can tell whether the patient is infected with a virus by detecting it directly
2
Q
What is the method for ELISA?
A
- antigens from the sample are attached to a surface and time is then given for the antigen to adhere to the plate
- a solution of a non-reacting protein is added to the plate to block any unbound sites to prevent non-specific binding of the antibody
- a specific antibody is applied to the surface so that it can bind with the antigen, this antibody is linked to an enzyme and then a substance containing the enzyme’s substrate is added
- the subsequent reaction produces a detectable signal, most commonly a colour change, the higher the concentration of antibody, the stronger the colour change
