Question

what is

a) What is ELISA? Briefly explain the sandwich ELISA technique.

b) What is a Rhogram?

Answer 1

a) ELISA ( Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay)

It is used for the detection of antibodies and antigens.

In ELISA, an enzyme is used which reacts with the substrate to produce a color in a positive test. It is a very sensitive test.

Sandwich ELISA technique

It is used for the detection of antigen in a specimen. IN it, wells of microtitre plate are coated with an antibody which is specific for the antigen. Now, the specimen which is to be tested added to the well. If the antigen is present in the specimen, it binds with the antibody-coated microtitre plate.

To confirm this antigen-antibody reaction, an antiserum conjugated with an enzyme and it binds to an antigen-antibody complex. Now a substrate is added to confirm the binding of conjugated serum to antigen-antibody complex. In the case of binding, the enzyme will act on the substrate and will give a positive result otherwise it not produce any clour and thus will give a negative result.

b) Rhogam - It is a medication which gives to the individual with Rh-negative blood who develops antibodies against Rh-positive blood after the exposure to Rh-positive blood.

For example mother of RH-negative blood type giving borth to RH-postive child.