Understanding Immunoassays: Principles and Applications
Immunoassays are powerful laboratory techniques that utilize the specific binding between an antigen and an antibody to detect and measure substances. These substances, often proteins, hormones, or small molecules, play critical roles in biological systems. The high specificity of antibodies makes immunoassays particularly reliable for identifying target molecules even in complex biological samples.
At their core, immunoassays rely on the principle of antigen-antibody interactions. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that recognize and bind to specific antigens with remarkable precision. In an immunoassay, antibodies are typically labeled with a detectable marker such as an enzyme, fluorescent dye, or radioactive isotope. When the antibody binds to its target antigen, the marker generates a measurable signal, allowing researchers to quantify the presence of the substance of interest.
There are several types of immunoassays, each with its unique methodology and applications. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are…