enzyme immunoassay


en·zyme im·mu·no·as·say

any of several immunoassay methods that use an enzyme covalently linked to an antigen or antibody as a label; the most common types are enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT).
See also: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique.

en·zyme im·mu·no·as·say

(EIA) (en'zīm im'yū-nō-as'ā) Procedure measuring antibodies to detect the analyte of interest and an enzyme linked to the antigen-antibody complex. The enzyme reacts with a substrate to produce a product that is measured to quantitate the amount of antigen-antibody formed.
See also: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique

enzyme immunoassay

Abbreviation: EIA
A rapid enzyme immunochemical method for determining the presence of an antigen, antibody, or hapten in the blood. In EIA an antigen or antibody is bound to an enzyme, e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase. The resulting molecule can bind specific immunological targets in body fluid samples and highlight their presence enzymatically. EIA, formerly known as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), is used as one of the primary diagnostic tests for many infectious diseases, including treponema pallidum (the spirochete that causes syphilis) and HIV. See also: immunoassay