How it Works: An Immunoassay Plate Guide

Problem: Immunoassay plates are utilized for a range of mainly ELISA-based applications, some of which are extremely sensitive and contain detection limits in the range of 10 fmol. In order to obtain accurate, reproducible and positive results, it is essential that the appropriate plate format is matched to the assay being undertaken. A number of points need to be taken into consideration when selecting an appropriate assay plate including the type of biomolecule being studied, the plate surface, the plate format (strip or solid), the plate color (clear, black or white), the well volume and the instrument compatibility (plate design).

With so many variables, selecting the right immunoassay plate for optimum results can be a difficult and time-consuming task, as traditionally the details of each assay plate would need to be manually selected, viewed and compared from a comprehensive list containing an extensive selection of plates.

Solution: In order to make the selection of immunoassay plates easier, researchers require an easy-to-follow, interactive online resource. An immunoassay plate guide, such as that offered by Thermo Fisher Scientific, provides a keyword-rich, fully searchable online resource, making it easier to accurately match plate type to each application. Within the guide, the products are divided into three sections based on the plate surface (passive, affinity-capture, covalent). Passive surfaces are appropriate for a wide range of applications as they can absorb medium to large molecules, such as antibodies, in a range of orientations. Affinity-capture surfaces offer specific binding, with the ability to control the orientation because they contain a receptor immobilized on the surface that binds to a tag-linked biomolecule. Finally, covalent surfaces bind smaller biomolecules such as peptides, haptens and DNA via a single covalent bond between the polymer surface and a free carboxyl or phosphate group on the biomolecule. In addition to the information provided on the different surfaces, each of the three sections of the guide contains a table that includes details on the base polymer, hydrophilicity, binding preference, key applications and user benefits for each of the plates. The interactive guide also allows the user to view the content in a variety of ways. This includes simply typing a phrase into the search box to pull out all the relevant sections, navigating through the pages using click-button arrows or typing the specified page number in the page window and clicking directly onto the contents page titles to be taken instantly to the desired page. In addition, virtual sticky notes can be inserted to keep track of the user’s thoughts and highlighted pages to remember.

Immunoassay plate guides, like the one offered by Thermo Fisher Scientific, can make selecting the right plate format, mainly for ELISA-based applications, an easier process.

For sensitive immunoassay protocols, it is essential that the correct plate type is matched to the assay being carried out. This is especially important to ensure that precise, reproducible results are obtained from the assays and downstream analysis. By combining functionality with ease of use, an immunoassay plate guide is a useful laboratory resource, providing— in the Thermo Scientific guide’s case—in-depth detail on the full range of Thermo Scientific Nunc Immunoassay plates available. The immunoassay plate guide is available as an interactive online resource, as well as a tablet PC format, making it easy to use regardless of location.

For more information, visit http://thermo.dirxion.com/immunoassaybrochure