What Is An ELISA Kit And Its Different Applications

ELISA—short for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay—has become a workhorse in modern biology and medicine. The test is quick, remarkably sensitive, and so specific it can sniff out a single protein in a messy biological soup. Below, you’ll find a practical walk-through of how ELISA kits work, the kit formats you’ll meet in the wild, and real-world scenarios where the assay quietly keeps everything, from hospital wards to dairy farms, running safely. The Four Core ELISA Formats Format How It Works Typical Use Case Direct One enzyme-tagged antibody sticks straight to the target; the signal comes from that single bond. Fast screening when the antigen is abundant. Indirect A primary antibody finds the antigen first, then a labeled secondary antibody “lights it up.” Detecting patient antibodies against viruses (e.g., HIV, COVID-19). Sandwich Capture antibody on the plate grabs the antigen; detection antibody binds elsewhere on that same antigen, forming a “sandwich.” Measuring tiny horm...