The Many Benefits Of Using ELISA Kits As Part Of The Diagnostic Process

By Jocelyn Davidson


One cannot help but to stand in awe of the rapid progress made in the medical field. New techniques and medicines are introduced at an astonishing rate. Of course, one of the main fields of research is diagnostics. No one will argue the fact that an early diagnosis ensures a better prognosis and lower treatment costs. ELISA kits, an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, allow doctors to diagnose a variety of conditions quickly and efficiently.

This test, also known as EIA is a laboratory procedure that is used to measure just how much antibodies and antigens there are in a specific sample of blood. The ability to measure the concentration of antigens and antibodies is a vital part of the diagnostic process. As an added bonus, this test is very easy to administer and many tests can be processed simultaneously.

Antibodies are protein substances that are produced by the body when it detects the presence of dangerous substances. The dangerous substances are called antigens. When antibodies are detected by means of the EIA test, it follows logically that there must be antigens too. The exact identity of the antigens can be determined by identifying the type of antibody in the sample. In this way a diagnosis can be made confidently.

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.

Diagnosticians can gain a wealth of information from the results of the EIA test. There are a number of different tests, however, each requiring a different kit. The more complex the test the more accurate and detailed the result. A simple test, such as the direct EIA test, produces fast results. The antigens are coated and the antibody will only recognize it if certain enzymes are present as well.

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.

Matched pairs of antibodies are used in the processing of the sandwich EIA test. In this case one of the antibodies is coated with polystyrene while the second one acts as a detecting agent. This test is performed when it is deemed necessary to determine the concentration of analytes in the sample. It is extremely accurate and can even detect diseases that have not manifested yet.

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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