Question

5. What is the advantage of using an ELISpot versus a standard sandwich ELISA? What are the similarities and differences between the two assays?

Answer 1

ELISpot is referred to as Enzyme-linked Immuno Spot Assay.

The advantages of using an ELISpot over standard sandwich ELISA is that

1. ELISpot is highly sensitive and can even detect a single cell out of a million cells.

2. It reduces the possibility of false errors as there is multiple steps of binding(Biotin to Streptavidin to HRP)

3.Relatively fast and easy performance.

The differences between ELISPOT assay and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are given below:

The similarities between the two assays are:

1.Both are based on the same immunochemical 'sandwich' principle where an antigen is sandwiched in between two antibodies.

2. Both uses same coloured reaction of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), colour substrate or Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) and substrate.Both uses enzyme substrate reaction to give color.