Immunoassays are a valuable tool in industry and the life sciences. These tests are to thank for better disease treatments, safer food and water and advances in biological research. In this guide, we will delve into immunoassays, explaining what they are, the different types and their applications.

What is an immunoassay?

Immunoassays are biochemical tests used to detect the presence or concentration of a specific chemical, such as a toxin or hormone, in a solution using antibody-antigen reactions.

Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins produced by the immune systems of humans and other animals in response to foreign substances (antigens) like bacteria, toxins and viruses. Antibodies are antigen-specific, with the binding sites on the antibody and antigen acting as a sort of lock and key. Immunoassays use this antibody-antigen bonding relationship to identify specific molecules in a solution. In immunoassays, antigens are called analytes.

Classifying immunoassays

There are a variety of ways to classify immunoassays. One of the main distinctions is that most immunoassays use labels while others do not. Labeled immunoassays use a variety of labels to modify or detect the antibodies and analytes. Label-free immunoassays use detection methods that do not rely on labeling or modification.

The critical components of an immunoassay: an analyte, an antibody, and a label that can be detected.

Labeled immunoassays are further broken down into two groups: heterogenous immunoassays and homogeneous immunoassays. A heterogeneous immunoassay, also known as a separation immunoassay, is a multi-step assay that requires analyte-antibody complex separation prior to analysis. A homogenous immunoassay does not require separation before analysis.

Finally, labeled immunoassays are either noncompetitive or competitive. Noncompetitive immunoassays use excess labeled antibody to bind with the analyte, while in competitive immunoassays the analyte competes with a specific quantity of labeled antigen for the antibody. The noncompetitive immunoassay is more sensitive.

What are the applications of immunoassays?

Immunoassays are easy to perform, and as such, they are widely used. Here are some common immunoassay applications.

Clinical diagnostics and drug monitoring

One of the fields for which immunoassays are essential is disease diagnostics and treatment. For instance, immunoassays are used in cancer diagnostics, pregnancy tests and therapeutic drug monitoring. These bioanalytical tests can examine the response to pharmaceutical drug treatments for conditions like HIV and cancer. They’re also used in workplace drug-testing.

Biopharmaceutical analysis

Biopharmaceutical drugs are those that have been extracted, synthesized or manufactured from or in a biological source. Immunoassays are valuable tools used in biopharmaceutical research and development, including vaccines and gene and cell therapy.

Food testing

Immunoassay is widely used in food production and development to detect dangerous contaminants or allergens. For instance, immunoassay tests can look for gluten, toxic chemicals, heavy metal contamination, or pathogens like E. coli.

Environmental monitoring

More recently, immunoassays have entered the environmental realm. Immunoassay technology is employed to detect contaminants in the environment. For instance, immunoassays test for certain pesticides, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and other toxic compounds in surface and ground water.

What are the advantages of immunoassay tests?

Immunoassay tests are widely used thanks to their many advantages. Immunoassays are:

• Inexpensive
• Accurate
• Capable of detecting low levels of molecules
• Useable for a wide range of compounds and applications