title: Direct ELISA.
abstract: First described by Engvall and Perlmann, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a rapid and sensitive method for detection and quantitation of an antigen using an enzyme-labeled antibody. Besides routine laboratory usage, ELISA has been utilized in medical field and food industry as diagnostic and quality control tools. Traditionally performed in 96-well or 384-well polystyrene plates, the technology has expanded to other platforms with increase in automation. Depending on the antigen epitope and availability of specific antibody, there are variations in ELISA setup. The four basic formats are direct, indirect, sandwich, and competitive ELISAs. Direct ELISA is the simplest format requiring an antigen and an enzyme-conjugated antibody specific to the antigen. This chapter describes the individual steps for detection of a plate-bound antigen using a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated antibody and luminol-based enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) substrate. The methodological approach to optimize the assay by chessboard titration is also provided.
authors.affiliation: Produce Safety and Microbiology Unit (PSM), Western Regional Research Center (WRRC), Pacific West Area (PWA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 800 Buchanan St., Albany, CA, 94710, USA, Alice.lin@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Alice V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D055767:Immobilized Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D049449:Luminescence; D008165:Luminol / Q000737:chemistry; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D055767:Immobilized Proteins; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D011137:Polystyrenes; D008165:Luminol; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase