The Basics of ELISA Immunoassays

The Basics of ELISA Immunoassays

Understanding the basic principles of immunoassays is easy. The essential components of antibody-based immunoassay systems are threefold: an antigen to detect and perhaps quantitate; a specific antibody to this antigen; and a system to measure the amount of antigen in a given sample. Although it appears to be a very simple system, in many cases a number of other assay materials are necessary to allow for quick and convenient measurement.

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What are the differences between ELISA assay types?

Immunometric / Sandwich ELISA Kit


Sandwich ELISA protocol overview

Immunometric assays, also known as sandwich ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), use two antibodies specific to the antigen to capture or "sandwich” antigen in the well for detection. Immunometric assays exhibit a direct correlation between antigen concentration and substrate response. Immunometric assays typically employ a "capture” antibody coated on the plate to bind the antigen of interest. During a second incubation, the antigen is bound by a second "detection” antibody that is also specific to the antigen. The detection antibody can either be bound by a secondary antibody-enzyme conjugate, or the detection antibody itself is enzyme-conjugated. When chromogenic substrate is added to the assay to develop color, samples with high antigen concentration generate more signal than those with low antigen concentration, producing a signal directly proportional to the amount of antigen in the sample. This correlation can then be used to extrapolate the concentration of antigen in an unknown sample from a standard curve.

Sandwich ELISA Protocol
  1. Sample is added to well coated with capture antibody and incubated
  2. Wells are washed to remove unbound molecules
  3. Add detection antibody and incubate to bind to antigen creating a “sandwich”
  4. Wash away excess detection antibody
  5. Add secondary antibody-enzyme conjugate and wash. Conjugated enzyme is typically horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP)
    Note: This step may be omitted if the reporting enzyme is directly conjugated to the detection antibody
  6. Add substrate and incubate to develop signal
  7. Measure signal in plate reader

Competitive ELISA kit


Competitive ELISA protocol

In competitive enzyme immunoassays (EIA) the antigen in a sample competes for limited antibody binding sites with antigen conjugated to a reporter enzyme. This produces an inverse relationship between antigen concentration and substrate turnover. Competitive EIAs typically use a single antibody to a small molecular weight antigen, generally less than 10,000 Daltons. During incubation, samples with high antigen content result in unlabeled antigen being bound in greater amounts than conjugated antigen. When chromogenic substrate is added to the assay to develop color, samples with high antigen concentration generate a lower signal than those containing low antigen concentration, yielding the inverse correlation between antigen concentration in the sample and color development in the assay. This relationship can then be used to extrapolate antigen concentration in an unknown sample from a standard curve. This type of reaction is one of the few methods possible for small molecular weight antigens, such as steroids, drugs, lipids and peptides.

28th Sep 2021

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