ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It is an immunological assay that is most often used to detect and quantify proteins, antibodies/antigens, viruses, bacteria, and glycoproteins in life science and pharmaceutical laboratories. An ELISA can diagnose many diseases like COVID-19 and allow scientists to examine new drugs to verify their structure and look for potential contaminant chemicals.A fully automated ELISA reader turns the manual, arduous, and time-consuming process of an ELISA into an easy, fast, and technician-free activity. Using standard 96 well microplates, scores of samples can be tested and the results presented to the scientist, all while laboratory personnel performs other, more important tasks.
What is a Fully Automated ELISA Reader?
A fully automated ELISA reader is part of an automated ELISA platform. This system allows 96 well microplates (or 48 and 24 well microplates) to be tested using an ELISA assay. An automated ELISA plate washer will automatically remove the assay reagents from each well while leaving the bound proteins attached to the well, without the need for a technician’s time. Once the microplates are washed, the plate can be read.
Often, dilutions are used across the wells, and both standards and controls are added so that each well contains samples, standards and controls. If two standards and two controls are used, that leaves 92 wells for samples.
An automated ELISA machine can perform the entire ELISA procedure on multiple 96 wells microplates. This includes adding the precise amount of detection antibody, performing washes, waiting the appropriate amount of incubation time for reactions, and adding a colorimetric substrate.
Automated ELISA Reader
With an automatic plate reader, and the ELISA plate map (showing where the samples are for each patient along with controls and standards, each of the 96 wells is tracked by the software of the automatic ELISA equipment. After the ELISA procedure is performed, the fully automated ELISA reader calculates the value of each well, and having used the ELISA plate map, the fully automated ELISA reader can give the scientist the final results in an organized and easy to read fashion.
Fully Automated ELISA Machine
A fully automated ELISA platform will be able to take over almost the entire process of performing an ELISA on dozens of samples simultaneously. The products and processes that are accomplished without technician involvement are much the same as the steps needed to perform a manual ELISA.
- Antibody Coating – Specific antibodies are added to each well and incubated, followed by the addition of a blocking protein such as albumin.
- Protein Capture – The test samples and standardized dilutions are added to each well.
- Detection Antibody – To allow the fully automated ELISA reader to measure the results, specific detectable biotinylated antibodies are added to each well.
- Streptavidin-Enzyme Conjugate – This is added and binds to the biotinylated antibodies.
- Colorimetric Substrate – The final addition to each well allows for a color change detectable by the fully automated ELISA reader.
- Analysis – Absorbance is measured in each of the 96 samples in the microplate using the fully automated ELISA reader to provide the scientist with organized and labeled results.
Of course, the real final step is for the automated ELISA plate washer to clean the microplates, so they are very quickly ready for the next round of ELISA testing.
ELISA Hudson Robotics
To learn more about the fully automated ELISA reader, an automated ELISA platform, or anything else related to life science or pharmaceutical laboratory automation, contact the experts at Hudson Robotics. With almost 40 years of experience, its specialists can answer all of your questions. Maintaining your competitive edge has never been easier with laboratory automation and Hudson Robotics. Contact Hudson Robotics today.
Other Relevant FAQs:
What are the potential limitations or challenges associated with using a fully automated ELISA reader, particularly concerning the adaptability of automated systems to diverse assay protocols and the necessity for ongoing calibration and maintenance to ensure accuracy and reliability?
The utilization of a fully automated ELISA reader may present challenges related to assay protocol adaptability and instrument maintenance. Automated systems must accommodate diverse assay protocols, requiring robust programming and customization capabilities. Additionally, ongoing calibration and maintenance are crucial to ensure the accuracy and reliability of results, necessitating regular monitoring and quality control measures to maintain optimal performance.
How does the integration of an automated ELISA platform, including an automated ELISA plate washer and reader, impact laboratory workflow efficiency and throughput, especially concerning the seamless coordination of multiple assay steps and the reduction of technician involvement?
Integrating an automated ELISA platform, comprising an automated plate washer and reader, enhances laboratory workflow efficiency and throughput by minimizing technician involvement and streamlining assay processes. Automation facilitates seamless coordination of multiple assay steps, from sample preparation to data analysis, allowing laboratory personnel to focus on more critical tasks. This optimization of workflow efficiency enables laboratories to handle larger sample volumes with greater accuracy and reproducibility.
What advancements or innovations are anticipated in the field of fully automated ELISA technology, particularly regarding the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to enhance data analysis capabilities and improve result interpretation and reporting?
The future of fully automated ELISA technology is poised for advancements incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to revolutionize data analysis and result interpretation. Integration of AI/ML algorithms into automated ELISA readers can facilitate more sophisticated data processing, enabling real-time quality control, outlier detection, and result validation. These innovations hold the potential to enhance result accuracy, reduce analysis time, and provide deeper insights into complex biological phenomena, further advancing the capabilities of automated ELISA systems in life science and pharmaceutical laboratories.