Factors To Consider When Buying 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 mainstream with numerous individuals preferring it. The main reason behind why it is alluded to as a sandwich is on account of there being an antigen which is between a pair of antibodies. This arrangement is favored in view of its robustness and sensitivity. In a few cases this configuration is not favored. On the off chance that you have a little antigen then you will think that it hard to append substantial antibodies on it.

The type of antibodies you are working with are also put into consideration. In ELISAs you can use both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. There are cases that call for a combination of both. When choosing antibodies there are several factors to look at. For capture it is advisable to use the polyclonal antibodies and the monoclonal antibodies for the detection process. If you follow this tip you should be able to capture all the antigens and then use monoclonal antibodies to identify some 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.

An alternate component to consider is cross reactivity. In the event that antibodies on the creature are good this could result in cross reactivity. It is not difficult to get antibodies for the creature that you are concerned with. You ought to dependably note if the cross reactivity is a problem. If you choose the sandwich format it is vital to match the essential location antibodies with the auxiliary ones that are utilized for identification.

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.




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