Elisa (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) Microplate Reader is a laboratory instrument used to measure the amount of a substance (e.g. antigen, antibody) in a liquid sample by detecting changes in light absorption.
What is the Principle of Working of a Microplate Reader?
Principle of Working works based on the principle of a sandwich assay. The sample is added to a microplate coated with a specific antibody. If the substance in the sample is the target antigen, it binds to the antibody and forms an antigen-antibody complex. A second antibody conjugated with an enzyme is added, which binds to the antigen. The reaction between the enzyme and a substrate results in a change in absorbance that can be measured by the reader.
Purpose
The purpose of the Elisa microplate reader is to quantitatively measure the amount of a substance in a sample. It is widely used in medical and biological research to detect the presence of disease markers, to monitor therapeutic efficacy, and for screening of drugs and vaccines.
Applications of Elisa microplate reader
The applications of Elisa microplate reader include:
Diagnosing diseases like HIV, hepatitis, and cancer.
Monitoring therapeutic efficacy of drugs and vaccines.
Drug and vaccine screening.
Detection of food contaminants and allergens.
Environmental monitoring for toxic substances.
Elisa washer
An Elisa washer is used in conjunction with an Elisa microplate reader because washing is an essential step in the Elisa assay. The purpose of washing is to remove unbound reagents and residual material from the microplate wells, ensuring that the final result is specific and accurate.
In a typical Elisa assay, after the addition of sample, antibody, and enzyme-conjugated antibody, unbound material needs to be removed to prevent interference in the final measurement. The Elisa washer performs this step by gently washing each well with a buffer solution.
Using an Elisa washer ensures that the wells are thoroughly and consistently washed, providing accurate and reproducible results. Automated Elisa washers also allow for efficient and streamlined washing, reducing the time and manual labor required for the assay.
Elisa washer is used to improve the accuracy and specificity of Elisa results by removing unbound reagents and residual material from the microplate wells.
Incubator with Elisa microplate reader
An incubator is often used in conjunction with an Elisa microplate reader because incubation is an important step in many Elisa assays. The purpose of incubation is to allow the binding of the target substance to the antibodies on the microplate wells.
In a typical Elisa assay, after the addition of the sample and antibodies, the microplate is incubated at a specific temperature and for a set amount of time. This allows the target substance in the sample to bind to the antibodies on the microplate, forming an antigen-antibody complex.
Using an incubator ensures that the microplate is maintained at the proper temperature and humidity conditions, which can affect the binding reaction. Automated incubators also allow for consistent and controlled incubation, reducing the risk of human error and providing reproducible results.