ELISA and Point of Care Devices
Primary antibody in the ELISA “well”Copyright Janira Arocho, CRLS, Cambridge, MA
Students learn the basic principles of the humoral immune response and use a model to understand how antibodies and antigens interact in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA is a laboratory diagnostic tool used to identify and quantify antigens. Through this model, students discover how the interactions between antigens and antibodies can aid in disease diagnosis and provide valuable information for disease management.
Antigen testing devices use antibodies to detect specific molecules, essential for point of care diagnostics. Their manufacture presents engineering challenges because biological molecules, such as proteins, can be affected by changes in pH, temperature, and other factors, altering their functionality. Biomedical engineers address these issues by testing materials and designs to optimize interactions for accurate signals, combining biological principles with engineering practices. They must also ensure that designs are cost-efficient, enabling widespread healthcare use. This intersection of biology and engineering highlights the pivotal role of biomedical engineering in advancing medical technology and improving patient care.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the basic interaction between antigens and antibodies during an immune response.
- Explain how antigen tests work.
- Discuss conditions that can lead to false positives and false negatives and why controls are important.