Immunoassays

An immunoassay is a technique or test used to detect the presence or quantity of a substance (as a protein) based on its capacity to act as an antigen. The essential and fundamental elements of an immunoassay are the analyte (or substance being measured), an antibody, and a detectable label. Analytes vary and can include large molecules, antibodies or even small molecules. Immunoassays are quite frequently leveraged with calibrators, or reference materials.

Immunoassays are inherently used to measure quickly, accurately, and flexible—both inside the laboratory and out. Its function lies in the ability of an antibody, found in a variety of substances, to bind with the structure of an individual antigen or analyte.

How are Immunoassays Used?

Over time, the nature of immunoassays used across medical and laboratory-based settings has evolved greatly, and varies on the basis of the analyte being measured as well as changing setting needs and requirements. Immunoassay formats have become progressively faster and more dependable, favoring ease of use and accuracy for the end user. In bioanalytical laboratories such as BioAgilytix, immunoassays apply across a diverse range of therapeutics and are often leveraged in conjunction with diagnostic platforms.