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

By Jocelyn Davidson


Even medical experts find it difficult to keep pace with the rapid advances that are made in the various medical fields. The development of diagnostic tests and procedures receive a lot of attention. This is because the prognosis is just so much better if a disease can be diagnosed early. The treatment is less invasive and the chances of success are much higher. ELISA kits have proven to be an efficient, economic and quick way in which to diagnose a wide variety of conditions.

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.

The EIA is deemed revolutionary because it is vital to be able to detect the presence of antibodies and antigens. When the body detects a harmful substance within the system it produces antibodies. The very fact that there are antibodies present means that there are harmful substances. These dangerous elements are called antigens. By identifying the type of antibody produced by the body, doctors can also determine the exact nature of the antigen that triggered the production of the antibodies.

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.

There are different forms of the EIA test, ranging from very simple to extremely complex. Different kits are used for the different forms of the test. With the direct EIA test, for example, the antigen is first covered with a multiwall plate. In this case the antibody in the blood sample will only react with the antigen if specific enzymes are added.

The indirect EIA test saves time and money because it is able to identify both secondary and primary antibodies during the same test cycle. Savings are achieved because the test often negates the need for other tests. In this case the antigens are coated with polystyrene and they can only be detected by the antibodies after two carefully manages stages.

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.

Any test or procedure that can help physicians to diagnose a disease at an earlier stage can help save lives. The EIA test certainly enables the accurate and early diagnosis of a variety of conditions. This can help ensure that treatment programs are less invasive and that the prognosis is better.




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