Immunoassay Techniques Used in Drug Test Screening: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

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The page below is a sample from the LabCE course Drug Testing Methods in the Clinical Toxicology Laboratory. Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.

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Immunoassay Techniques Used in Drug Test Screening: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), the antibody is anchored to a solid surface. The patient sample and a drug or metabolite labeled with an enzyme are added to a testing well where the drug or metabolite in the sample and drug or metabolite labeled with an enzyme compete for binding sites on the anchored antibody. Unbound components are removed by washing the well and adding a chromogenic reagent. A colored product is formed when the chromogenic reagent reacts with the immobilized drug labeled with an enzyme. The absorbance reading on the spectrometer is inversely proportional to the concentration of drug or metabolite in the urine sample.