ELISA assay validation: How automation can help

Home Lab automation blog ELISA assay validation: how automation can help

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a cornerstone of clinical diagnostics and biological research, commonly used across the realms of immunology, cancer research, and neurobiology, among others.

ELISAs allow clinicians or researchers to accurately quantify the levels of a specific target of interest in a sample ¹. However, for an ELISA to accurately measure the antigen levels in a sample, the ELISA procedure must first be validated.

ELISA validation can be a complex, time-consuming process that is prone to error and so Automation can have several advantages when used to do this.

Automation enhances the precision, standardisation, throughput, speed, and efficiency of ELISA validation procedures. Additionally, automated systems can effectively collect and analyse data and enable compliance with regulatory requirements.

In this article, we will discuss the what, why, and how of automation for ELISA validation.

How do you validate an ELISA?

To validate an ELISA and ensure the reliability of results, the following criteria should be assessed ²:

Robustness: the ability of the method to be unaffected by small variations in parameters, e.g. incubation time and temperature
Precision: the similarity between independent test results obtained under specified conditions
Accuracy: the similarity between test result values and accepted reference values
Quantification limits: the range of analyte concentrations that can be detected while retaining precision and accuracy
Specificity: the ability of the assay to differentiate and measure the analyte of interest in the presence of a mixture of components

ELISA assay validation is critical for newly developed or modified procedures (i.e. when measuring a new antigen, or using a different sample type).

Generally, any new test will need to undergo ELISA development and validation protocols prior to use as a diagnostic or research tool. When performed correctly, carrying out ELISA method validation ensures that the procedure is well-characterised, fully validated, and documented to a satisfactory standard, which is particularly important if the ELISA process will be used as a diagnostic tool in clinical settings ^2,3. It will result in a validation report that serves as objective evidence that the method fulfils the requirements for its intended use ².

How can automation help with ELISA validation?

Validation is a crucial part of the ELISA process and is required to ensure the precision, accuracy, and reproducibility of the workflow, assuring users and regulators that assay results are consistent and reliable. However, the validation process can be complex, time-consuming, and subject to human error, making it a perfect candidate for automation ⁴.

Automated ELISA platforms can help validation in several ways:

Precision: automation can improve accuracy and reduce the chances of systematic and random errors, including human error. Using an automated system avoids the variability that may occur when workflows are performed by different users or in different laboratories
Standardisation: by ensuring the same procedures are followed in the same manner each time, automation can standardise ELISA validation protocols, reducing variability and increasing reproducibility
Speed and efficiency: automation can perform repetitive tasks more quickly and accurately than humans, increasing efficiency and meaning researchers can focus on other tasks which require human input
Higher throughput: automated systems can handle multiple samples simultaneously, increasing the throughput of the validation procedure
Data collection and analysis: automated systems can systematically collect and store data, reducing the chances of data loss or error. Moreover, automated systems can quickly and accurately perform analyses
Compliance with regulatory requirements: automated systems can be programmed to follow specific ELISA validation protocols and generate reports which may be necessary to demonstrate compliance with ELISA validation guidelines. This is particularly important when validating ELISAs for diagnostic tools in clinical settings or as research tools in drug discovery settings.

Discover truly hands-off ELISA automation solutions

Overall, automation is advantageous for ELISA validation and subsequent ELISA workflows ⁴. In both scenarios, automation can enhance precision, reduce the likelihood of human error, improve the consistency of results, and save time. This ensures the results are accurate, reliable, and reproducible and is particularly useful for scaling assays up to high-throughput workflows.

Automata’s fully automated ELISA solutions offer the perfect solution for ELISA validation and subsequent assays, freeing your highly skilled scientists up for other work and ensuring consistent and accurate results.

Discover how your lab can fully automate your ELISA workflows to enhance your research accuracy and your researchers’ productivity with LINQ.

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References

1. Engvall E. The ELISA, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Clin Chem. 2010;56(2):319-320. doi:10.1373/clinchem.2009.127803

2. Andreasson U, Perret-Liaudet A, Van Waalwijk Van Doorn LJC, et al. A Practical Guide to Immunoassay Method Validation. Front Neurol. 2015;6. doi:10.3389/fneur.2015.00179

3. Minic R, Zivkovic I. Optimization, Validation and Standardization of ELISA. In: Mózsik G, ed. Norovirus. IntechOpen; 2021. doi:10.5772/intechopen.943384.

4. Bock JL. The New Era of Automated Immunoassay. Am J Clin Pathol. 2000;113(5):628-646. doi:10.1309/DUDM-3Y6L-3R1L-QP15