Boster Bio Life Science Blog

ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a convenient and simple method to quantitatively or qualitatively detect peptides, proteins, antibodies, and hormones in samples, rendering it as one of the most widely used immunoassays. Many laboratories perform these assays using standardized elisa kits, which help streamline assay setup and improve reproducibility. To derive accurate concentrations from measured signals, most ELISA protocols rely on constructing an standard curve from known standards, which serves as the reference for sample interpolation. Despite the many advantages of conducting ELISA—or more complex formats like those used in Multiplex Assay Services and multiplex E...

The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is recognized by scientists for its many advantages. The assay is convenient, quick, and simple to execute. ELISA’s versatility to detect peptides, proteins, antibodies, and hormones, and its ability to generate quantitative and qualitative data make it one of the most popular and powerful immunoassays available, with further efficiency supported by quick elisa kits in modern laboratory workflows.

In response to popular demand, numerous commercial ELISA kits are offered in the market, but not all ELISA kits are created equal.

How do we sift through the masses and choose a good ELISA kit?

Keep in mind the following points next time you go hunting for an ELISA kit.

Assay Format

• What would you like to determine for your sample? There are four categories of ELISAs - direct, indirect, sandwich, and competitive.
• If you’re planning for speedy detection of immune response to an antigen, and signal amplification isn’t a priority, direct ELISA might be for you.
• For better sensitivity and greater flexibility to figure out the total antibody concentration, indirect ELISA might be more suitable.
• What if your sample is complex? Fear not, choose sandwich ELISA for high sensitivity, specificity, and f
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Introduction to Predicting Western Blot Band Sizes

First described in 1979, the technique of western blotting has since become one of the most commonly used analytical methods in life science research. Just last week, we received a few questions from confused researchers about weird band sizes in their western blot results:

Accurate western...

Protease inhibitor cocktails are chemical compounds that act to protect and maintain cellular protein composition after lysis of a cell, preventing natural degradation. They play an important role in protein quantification analysis, rendering the protease ineffective while obtaining appropriate protein purification yields. Protease inhibitors are classified by either the type of protease they act on or their mechanism of actions.

What are proteases?

Proteases are enzymes that degrade proteins, playing an important role in cellular protein catabolism. Through their interaction with the proteins, they influence their activity and production of bioactive molecules, cellular repair, and the degradation of extracellular material. Proteases are also vital for food...

What is DAPI?

DAPI, or 4',6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole, Dihydrochloride, is a commonly used fluorescent dye that binds to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA).

What does DAPI stain?

DAPI binds to and ‘stains’ double-stranded DNA, preferably binding to A-T-rich regions in DNA. DAPI stain is excited by ultraviolet (UV) light, with its largest excitation wavelength at ~360nm, and it produces a vibrant blue color with its largest emission wavelength at ~460nm when bound to DNA. Due to its fluorescent properties and rich blue color, it is readily used for visualization in fluorescence microscopy and other assays. Because it can pass through the cell membrane and stain DNA, DAPI is a useful dye for nuclear quantification and has been utilized in numerous assays, such as live or fixed cell staining, cell viability assays, flow cytometry, cell cycle analysis, mycoplasma contamination detection and in fluorescence microscopy. In fluorescence-based tissue analysis, especially where nuclear visualization guides diagnostic interpretation, accurate identification of morphological patterns is often supported by expert Pathology Review, complementing the use of nuclear dyes like DAPI. Because of its wide range of applications, Boster offers an affordable DAPI stain solution (Catalog# AR1176) that has been validated and cited in several publications.

What is DAPI staining used for?

Cell cycle analysis & flow cytometry

Since DAPI binds to DNA, it can be used to determine the relative amount of DNA in cells for cell cycle analysis. Cells currently in the G2 phase of mitosis will have twice the amount of DNA as cells in the G1 phase of mitosis, which will be reflected in the amount of fluorescence from DAPI in each cell. Apoptotic cells will have less DNA than a single cell, since DNA is being deg...

At Boster, one common question we get from researchers is, “How do I prepare the ELISA standard?” We’re glad you asked because proper construction of the standard curve is the very first step for every ELISA experiment.The standard curve can help confirm that the quality of th...

Why Are IHC Controls Important?

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a popular protein detection method that utilizes antibody-antigen interactions to visualize the distribution and localization of specific cellular components within cells and in their proper tissue context. This methodology also forms the basis for more complex techniques like Multiplex...