Surmodics IVD Library

ELISA Assay Solutions & Protocol

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA’s) are plate-based enzyme assays used for identifying and quantifying sample proteins, peptides, antigens, and antibodies that are targets in research of a specific compound. The identification of a specifically targeted protein in an ELISA array is completed by using antibodies to immobilize the protein and detect the presence of the protein targeted.

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What is an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)?

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a method used to identify and quantify substances such as proteins, peptides, antibodies, hormones, and other analytes. ELISA kits have become one of the most used assay techniques for research laboratories, clinical diagnostics companies and more.

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Types of ELISAs

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a method used to identify and quantify substances such as proteins, peptides, antibodies, hormones, and other analytes. ELISA Kits have become one of the most used assay techniques for research laboratories, clinical diagnostics companies and more. ELISA kits are used in other formats such as testing individual samples and automated screening. ELISA is used as a common diagnostic tool for medicine, biotechnology, plant pathology, and quality assurance in many industries.

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ELISA Blocking Reagents

Surmodics™ IVD has a wide selection of reliable, ready-to-use ELISA blocking reagents for assay manufacturing companies and laboratory professionals looking to build sensitive, reproducible immunoassays. We offer several blocking reagents for immunoassays, including point-of-care applications, ELISA’s and more.

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How Do Immunoassay Tests Work

Immunoassay Tests are biochemical tests that detect disease and works on the principle of antigen-antibody reaction. It aims at measuring the presence and the concentration of an analyte. Researchers and health care professionals utilize immunoassays to detect different kinds of antibodies.

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Guide to Determining Protein Stability

Proteins play the most critical role in immunoassays. They act as the detection antigen or antibody that assay developers use to determine whether a disease state is present. Preserving these proteins is essential in determining accurate results.

Read our Guide to Determining Protein Stability

ELISA Wash Buffers

ELISA wash buffers were developed as a high performing washing solution to be used in a variety of versatile ELISA formats. Surmodics™ IVD’s BioFX™ Tris Buffered Saline (TBS) Wash Solution‐10X Concentrate contains non‐ionic surfactant, which does not interfere with assay reactants and reduces non‐specific binding.

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Elisa Kits

ELISA kits should be sensitive, specific and stable. Surmodics IVD’s immunoassay components for ELISA kits are a reliable resource in the diagnostic industry. Surmodics IVD proudly offers several immunoassay components for both competitive ELISA formats and sandwich ELISA formats.

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WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF AN ELISA?

The standard components in an ELISA kit include antibodies, antigens, dried protein stabilizers and blockers, wash buffers, in-solution protein stabilizers, substrates, stop solutions and sample/assay diluents if needed. Surmodics IVD acts as a one-stop-shop for assay developers to purchase individual components of an ELISA when building ELISA kits. Our extensive portfolio of ELISA products helps overcome technical issues and help assay developers in the continued optimization of their ELISA technology.

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Non-specific Binding: What You Need to Know

Non-Specific binding (NSB) refers to an occurrence of an antibody binding to unintended proteins, receptors, or transporters. This binding of assay antibodies is not correlated with the specificity of the antibodies.

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Difference Between a Diluent and a Solvent: Definitions and More

To dilute something is to reduce its potency, viscosity, or concentration. The definition of a diluent in immunochemistry is a liquid solution that reduces the potency of another substance or liquid. In immunoassays, using a sample or assay diluent can help reduce false positives and block matrix interferences while maintaining the assay’s clinical utility.

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What are Some Potential Errors that can Occur in an ELISA?

There are several potential errors that can occur when building, troubleshooting, and optimizing ELISA immunoassays. It is imperative that assay developers overcome these potential errors in order to build accurate and reliable ELISA applications. The following overview will cover the most common potential errors in ELISA’s and how assay developers can overcome these challenges.

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Causes of High Background in ELISA Tests and How to Solve Them

High background in an ELISA test is a common and often difficult issue for assay developers to overcome. High background in ELISA’s can be caused by several factors including, non-specific binding, contamination of samples, cross-reactivity, and more.

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Background in ELISA Tests

Blocking and Stabilizing in one step

A common question assay developers may ask themselves: is it possible to block and stabilize a dried down protein in one step? Here at Surmodics™ IVD, the answer is yes! Surmodics™ IVD offers assay developers three options for blocking and stabilizing dried down proteins in one step. Surmodics™ IVD’s StabilCoat™, StabilBlock™ and StabilGuard™ offer assay developers the gold standard for stability and blocking efficacy. These dried protein stabilizers and blockers provide improved assay performance in a one-step process for streamlined manufacturing.

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What is the Difference Between Direct and Indirect ELISA?

A Direct ELISA uses a labeled primary antibody that is conjugated directly to an enzyme, while an indirect ELISA relies on a primary and conjugated secondary antibody combination. The conjugated secondary antibody can bind to many different primary antibodies.

Difference Between Direct and Indirect ELISA

Guide To Detecting Proteins: ELISA

Discovering precise methods for detecting proteins can often be a challenging task for immunoassay developers. That’s why we developed this overview, to provide guidance around the robust technique of ELISA.

Guide To Detecting Proteins: ELISA

Guide to Sandwich ELISA Protocol

Struggling to understand the fundamentals of a sandwich ELISA? You’re not alone. This powerful biochemical technique, used for quantifying antigens in biological samples, can seem complex at first glance.

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What Is the Difference Between Recombinant and Native Antigens

Antigens are crucial for understanding how our immune system fights off diseases. These substances, which can be anything from a virus to a piece of pollen, trigger an immune response in our bodies.

What Is the Difference Between Recombinant and Native Antigens?