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

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 EIA test, as it is also known, is used to analyze a sample of blood in order to determine the concentration of antibodies and antigens. It would be very difficult to make an accurate diagnosis if the concentration of the antigens and antibodies cannot be determined. Doctors favor this test because it is relatively easy to perform and the results are available quickly.

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 do not experience any form of discomfort during the test. A small sample of blood is removed and then sent to the laboratory. There, a technician will add the sample to a petri dish that is already prepared with antigens. When the antibodies in the blood sample bind with the specific antigen in the petri dish and identification can be made. Further enzymes are then added to see how the antibody and the antigen react to each other.

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.

With the indirect EIA test polystyrene plate is used to cover the antigen. This allows the technician to process the test in two distinct stages before the antibody will be able to identify the antigen and react with it. During each stage it is possible to identify both primary and secondary antibodies. The benefit of this ability is that it saves money and time.

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.

The EIA test is so popular with medical experts because it is versatile, quick and very accurate. The test is easy to administer and to process too. Patients benefit because their conditions can be diagnoses at an earlier stage. This makes treatment easier and it improves the prognosis.




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