CBSE · Class 12 · Biology · Biotechnology and its ApplicationsHow does an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) detect the presence of a pathogen in a patient?
Step-by-Step Solution
ELISA is a diagnostic assay based on the fundamental principle of antigen-antibody interactions. It can detect the presence of pathogens by identifying either the antigens produced by the pathogen or the specific antibodies synthesized by the patient's immune system against that pathogen. Enzyme-linked secondary antibodies bound to a chromogenic substrate produce a visible color change, confirming a positive test result.
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