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Laym<strong>an</strong> Report . Realization<br />

5<br />

2 Realization<br />

2.1 Immunoassays<br />

Immunoassays are chemical tests used to detect or qu<strong>an</strong>tify a specific subst<strong>an</strong>ce,<br />

the <strong>an</strong>alyte, in a blood or body fluid sample, using <strong>an</strong> immunological reaction.<br />

Immunoassays are highly sensitive <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> specific. Their high specificity results from<br />

the use <strong>of</strong> <strong>an</strong>tibodies <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> purified <strong>an</strong>tigens as reagents. An <strong>an</strong>tibody is a protein<br />

(immunoglobulin) produced by B-lymphocytes (immune cells) in response to<br />

stimulation by <strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>tigen. Immunoassays measure the formation <strong>of</strong> <strong>an</strong>tibody-<strong>an</strong>tigen<br />

complexes <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> detect them via <strong>an</strong> indicator reaction.<br />

The purpose <strong>of</strong> <strong>an</strong> immunoassay is to measure <strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>alyte. Common uses include<br />

measurement <strong>of</strong> drugs, hormones, specific proteins, tumor markers, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> markers <strong>of</strong><br />

cardiac injury. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) is a method employing radioactive<br />

isotopes to label either the <strong>an</strong>tigen or <strong>an</strong>tibody. The major adv<strong>an</strong>tages <strong>of</strong> RIA,<br />

compared with other immunoassays, are higher sensitivity, easy signal detection,<br />

<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> well-established, rapid assays. The major disadv<strong>an</strong>tages are the health <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />

safety risks posed by the use <strong>of</strong> radiation <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> the time <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> expense associated with<br />

maintaining a licensed radiation safety <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> disposal program.<br />

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) as developed as <strong>an</strong> alternative to radioimmunoassay<br />

(RIA). These methods use <strong>an</strong> enzyme to label either the <strong>an</strong>tibody or <strong>an</strong>tigen. The<br />

sensitivity <strong>of</strong> EIA approaches that for RIA, without the d<strong>an</strong>ger posed by radioactive<br />

isotopes. One <strong>of</strong> the most widely used EIA methods is the enzyme-linked<br />

immunosorbent assay (ELISA).<br />

For a long time immunoassays belong to the routine methods in biochemistry <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />

medical diagnosis. However in the last 10-15 years their import<strong>an</strong>ce in different areas<br />

like the environmental <strong>an</strong>alysis <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> food inspection increased intensely. They are<br />

used for the determination <strong>of</strong> environmental contaminates (aromatic hydrocarbons,<br />

pesticides or explosives in soil or water), food additive <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> pharmaceuticals.<br />

For the determination <strong>of</strong> subst<strong>an</strong>ces with small sizes <strong>of</strong> molecules, immunoassays<br />

compete with chromatographic methods that are mainly applied today.<br />

Immunoassays have several adv<strong>an</strong>tages compared to other <strong>an</strong>alytical methods: they<br />

are fast <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> inexpensive <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> the <strong>an</strong>alysis does not require long-winded cle<strong>an</strong>-up<br />

quo data GmbH 10.11.2005

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