Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay is a powerful tool in medical laboratories, widely used across immunology and biotechnology for its sensitivity and specificity. This assay involves coating a plate with an antigen or antibody, followed by a procedure where enzymes and substrates interact to produce measurable results.

A key application of ELISA is in detecting specific antibodies or antigens in patient samples. For example, in the case of COVID-19, ELISA tests detect antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, indicating whether someone has been exposed to the virus and developed an immune response. This makes ELISA invaluable for diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and epidemiological studies.

Beyond infectious diseases, ELISA is also used in the detection of hormones, like insulin, and food allergens, making it crucial in both clinical settings and the food industry. Its high sensitivity and specificity, along with the ability to handle multiple samples simultaneously, offer significant advantages in the development of diagnostic procedures and the accurate interpretation of results.

Clinical Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of infectious diseases:	ELISA can detect antibodies produced by the body in response to a pathogen, indicating a current or past infection. ELISA is used to diagnose diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, Lyme disease, and syphilis.
Allergy testing:	ELISA can be used to identify specific IgE antibodies produced by the immune system in response to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or food. It helps diagnose allergies and determine the allergen causing the symptoms.
Autoimmune disease diagnosis:	ELISA can recognize autoantibodies produced by the immune system that attack the body’s own tissues. It can be used to diagnose autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
Cancer diagnosis:	ELISA can find tumor markers which are the substances produced by cancer cells. ELISA can help diagnose certain types of cancer, such as prostate cancer and ovarian cancer.
Drug level monitoring:	ELISA helps monitor drug levels in the blood to ensure that the drug is at a therapeutic level and not toxic. ELISA can also be used to detect drug abuse by measuring the levels of drugs or their metabolites in urine.

 

 

Biomedical Research:

Protein quantification:	ELISA is commonly used to quantify the amount of a specific protein in a sample. This can help researchers understand the expression and regulation of proteins in cells and tissues.
Antibody detection:	ELISA is used to detect and quantify antibodies in biological samples, such as serum or plasma. This allows for comprehension of how the immune system reacts to pathogens.
Biomarker discovery:	Biomarkers are molecules that can be used to indicate the presence, severity, or progression of a disease. This can assist scientists in detecting and measuring certain biomarkers, which have the potential to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diseases.

 

 

Drug Discovery:

Identifying New Drug Targets:	ELISA is used in drug discovery to identify new drug targets. The technique can be used to identify novel proteins, receptors, enzymes, and other molecules that are associated with the disease.
Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Studies:	It is also commonly utilized for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies which aim to investigate how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body, as well as its impact on the target molecule.

 

 

Food Safety Testing:

Quality Control in Various Food Products:	ELISA is a crucial technique for quality control in milk, fish, genetically modified foods, irradiated foods, or other dangerous food components that could potentially affect human health, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Detection of Foodborne Pathogens:	ELISA is used in many different areas of food safety testing, including detection of foodborne pathogens, monitoring of food processing and production and also with the screening of imported foods.

 

 

Environmental Monitoring:

Water quality testing:	ELISA is used to detect the presence of harmful substances in water, such as pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals. It can also be used to monitor for the presence of pathogens, such as E. coli and other bacteria in drinking water or recreational water sources.
Air pollution monitoring:	ELISA helps monitor the presence of air pollutants, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, which are released by industrial processes and traffic.
Soil analysis:	ELISA detects the presence of contaminants in soil, such as heavy metals, pathogens and pesticides, that can be harmful to plants and animals.
Monitoring of industrial processes:	ELISA has the capability to oversee industrial procedures for the existence of hazardous substances like heavy metals and solvents, which can be discharged into the surroundings.

 

References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36795355/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34282163/
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890850816300494
4. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-6766-2_2