Principles The Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, or ELISA , is a technique used to detect the presence of a specific molecule in a given sample. The molecule to be detected could be an antibody or antigen. Basically, a small plastic well is coated with an antibody that binds to the antigen of interest (for example, a toxin). Sample is added to the well. If the toxin is present, it binds to the antibody and sticks to the well surface. The samples are rinsed to remove any unbound material. Another anti-toxin antibody is added. Then a tagged antibody is added; this one has an enzyme attached to one end. The substrate of the enzyme is then added. If the enzyme is there, the substrate gets converted to a colored product, and we can see it as a positive result. Procedure The surfaces of the wells in the plate are coated with a “capture” antibody. The sample is then added and any antigen present binds to the capture antibody. After washing the plates, only the antibody-antigen co...
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