Kit Purchased from

Watch a 53 second video that illustrates an antibody immune response.

Watch the Antigen Detection ELISA animation to visualize and understand the lab’s protocol.

Questions

1. What does ELISA stand for?
2. In class, we will test for the (fictional) presence of smallpox.  Is smallpox an antigen or antibody?
3. What is the purpose of Tween 20 in the wash buffer?
4. What is the purpose of the wash buffer?                                                                                                                                                                                                               
5. What is the purpose of the primary antibody?  When is it added to the samples?                                                    
6. What is the purpose of the secondary antibody?  How is it made?  When is it added to the samples?              
7. What is the purpose of the enzyme?  When is it added to the samples?
8. What is the purpose of the substrate?  When is it added to the samples?                                                             
9. What is the purpose of the negative control?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
10. What is the purpose of the positive control?                                                                                                                                                                                      
11. Study the results of an ELISA test in the picture below.  What do the student results indicate?  Are the outcomes of the positive and negative controls as you expected?  What indicates a positive result for smallpox?