STABILITY AND REUSABILITY OF ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY (ELISA) PLATES

Due to the concern of stripping immobilized enzymes and antibodies fro m microtiter plates by the washing process, enzyme-linked immunosorben t assay (ELISA) has been traditionally run on single-use, disposable u nits. This paper discusses the concept of stabilized, reusable ELISA p lates. Antibody immobilized microtiter plates with three different mod ified polystyrene immobilizing surfaces were stored in Dulbecco's phos phate buffered saline/1% BSA/0.1% Thimerosal (DBT) and DBT with 3% suc rose (DBTS) for one month at 4-degrees-C. After treatment with the cha otrope and storage in buffer, the plates can be reused up to 4 times w ith 90% or greater antigenic capacity remaining. High and low binding microtiter plates were studied for reusability with anti-rabbit IgG (a RIgG) as a primary antibody. In each case, the procedure allowed repea ted use of the same antibody immobilized plates for ELISA without re-i mmobilizing the antibody or loss of antigenicity. Immobilized ELISA pl ates were stable for one month if stored in DBTS at 4-degrees-C.