| ELISA | <investigation> The enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay is serologic test used as a general screening tool for the detection of antibodies to the HIV virus. Reported as positive or negative. Since false positive tests due occur (for example recent flu shot), positives will require further evaluation using the western blot. ELISA technology links an a measurable enzyme to either an antigen or antibody. In this way, it can then measure the presence of an antibody or an antigen in the bloodstream. Acronym: ELISA (27 Sep 1997) |
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| IgM antibody capture ELISA | Developed to impart significant improvement in assay specificity to indirect ELISA procedures for IgM isotype antibodies. Solid-phase support (usually microtitre plate wells) are coated with anti-human IgM antibodies capable of binding all IgM isotype antibodies present in the specimen. Reagent antigen is then added, followed by enzyme-labelled antigen-specific antibodies. If IgM antibodies specific for the antigen in question are present, the "sandwich" complex will result in enzymatic colour-change proportional to the concentration of IgM-specific antibody present. This technique appears to be the method of choice in many highly specific and more sensitive assays for IgM infectious disease antibodies. Acronym: MAC ELISA (05 Mar 2000) |
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