Introduction to Immunoassays
摘要
The widespread use of immunoassays in routine and research laboratories is based on two important features: in many cases, assays can be carried out relatively quickly and easily; moreover, the target substance can be detected in a mixture of many different substances, present in a millionfold excess of the target substance. Both features are based on the detection molecules used in the immuno-assay, the antibodies. Antibodies “recognize” the substance to be analyzed, the analyte, within a heterogeneous group of molecules. This chapter is an introduction to the methodology and diversity of immunoassays and prepares the reader for further chapters of this textbook.