Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Definition
An immunoassay format in which an enzyme-conjugated antibody produces a measurable colour change on substrate addition. Developed in 1971, adopted in forensic laboratories from the 1980s for body-fluid identification, species determination, and drug detection.
- Developed
- 1971
- Forensic adoption
- From the 1980s onward
- Uses
- Body-fluid ID, species determination, drug detection
Common questions
What did ELISA replace in earlier forensic serology practice?+
It largely superseded older precipitin and agglutination-based species and fluid tests, offering a faster, more sensitive, and more easily quantified colorimetric readout suited to laboratory-scale casework throughput.
Is a positive ELISA result alone considered confirmatory in casework?+
Generally not for the most consequential determinations. Laboratories commonly follow a positive screening ELISA with a confirmatory method, such as DNA analysis for identity or a second orthogonal assay, before treating the result as conclusive.
Related terms
- ABO Blood Group System
- Classification of red blood cells by the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the cell membrane, determined by alleles...
- Lateral-Flow Immunoassay
- A point-of-care competitive immunochromatographic format on a nitrocellulose strip. In the absence of drug, colloidal gold-labelled antibody is captured at a test...
- Monoclonal Antibody
- An antibody produced from a single B-cell clone, recognising a single specific epitope. In forensic species identification, monoclonal antibodies offer higher specificity...
- Precipitin Test
- A serological method in which an antiserum specific to one species' proteins is mixed with an extract of an unknown specimen. Formation...
- Radioimmunoassay (RIA)
- An immunological quantification method developed in the late 1950s in which a radiolabelled antigen competes with unlabelled antigen for antibody binding sites....