Using hapten cross-reactivity to screen heterologous competitive antigens for improving the sensitivity of ELISA

In this study, heterologous competitive antigens (HCAs) suitable for improving the sensitivity of ELISA were successfully screened based on their cross-reactivities (CRs) with 19 quinolone analogues; each containing the norfloxacin amino derivative (NOR₀) coupled with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a coating antigen. HCAs prepared with hapten analogues (CRs of 0.77%-49.92%) remarkably enhanced the sensitivity of the subsequent ELISA. ELISA sensitivity for NOR detection improved 26-fold when moxifloxacin-BSA was used as a heterologous coating antigen relative to when NOR₀-BSA was used as a homologous coating antigen. This work, therefore, represents a detailed screening method to select suitable heterologous competitive antigens that improve ELISA sensitivity. Secondly, we present new theoretical tools to estimate hapten structures for use in the method, which may also be applied to improve the sensitivity of other immunoassays.