ELISA

Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology

ELISA
Stands forEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
CategoriesScience & Engineering

ELISA stands for Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a biology abbreviation also used in medicine.

Plate-based test that detects and measures a protein, antibody or hormone by capturing it with antibodies and adding an enzyme that turns a substrate colored in proportion to the amount present. ELISAs screen blood donations for HIV and hepatitis, measure hormones and cytokines, and detect food allergens.

Example: Serum IgG against the virus was measured by ELISA, with optical density read at 450 nm.

Usage notes

Eva Engvall and Peter Perlmann at Stockholm University, and independently Anton Schuurs and Bauke van Weemen in the Netherlands, published the method in 1971 as a safer alternative to radioimmunoassay. Formats include direct, indirect, sandwich and competitive ELISA. Pronounced "eh-LIE-za."

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