Competitive ELISA Kits
Competitive ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is a type of immunoassay that is widely used to quantify small molecules, hormones, peptides, and other analytes in biological samples. Unlike other ELISA formats (such as direct or sandwich ELISA), competitive ELISA is particularly effective for detecting small molecules that have only one binding site (epitope) or are too small to be effectively captured between two antibodies.
Principle of Competitive ELISA
In a competitive ELISA, a sample containing an unknown concentration of the target analyte is mixed with a known amount of a labeled or enzyme-linked version of the same analyte.
- Antibody Coating: A plate is pre-coated with a specific antibody that has a high affinity for the target analyte.
- Competitive Binding: The sample (containing the unlabeled analyte) is added along with a known amount of labeled or enzyme-linked analyte. Both the labeled and unlabeled analytes compete for binding to the antibodies on the plate.
- Signal Development: After a wash step to remove unbound analytes, a substrate is added that reacts with the enzyme label, generating a measurable signal.
Applications of Competitive ELISA
- Hormone and Steroid Detection: Commonly used for hormones (e.g., cortisol, estradiol) and steroids that are small in size and have only one epitope.
- Drug Testing: Detects and quantifies drugs or drug metabolites in biological samples, useful in toxicology and forensic testing.
- Environmental Monitoring: Measures pollutants, pesticides, and other small molecule contaminants in environmental samples.
- Food and Beverage Testing: Used to detect contaminants, residues, and small allergens in food and beverage samples.
- Clinical Diagnostics: Measures levels of specific metabolites or drugs in patient samples, aiding in therapeutic drug monitoring.
Competitive ELISA provides a robust and versatile method for quantifying small analytes with precision, offering valuable applications in research, diagnostics, and quality control across various industries.
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