Serum alphafetoprotein determination by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a significant biomarker.
• Accurate AFP quantification is crucial for clinical diagnostics.
• Radio-immunoassay (RIA) is a common method for AFP detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and validate an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for determining alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).
• To compare the performance of the developed ELISA with a commercial radio-immunoassay (RIA) kit.

Main Methods:

• Adaptation of Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in microtitre trays for AFP determination.
• Validation of the ELISA method against a commercial radio-immunoassay (RIA) kit.

Main Results:

• The developed ELISA method demonstrated a lower limit of sensitivity for AFP of 1 microgram/l.
• Results from the ELISA assay showed excellent correlation with a commercial RIA kit (r = 0.994).
• ELISA offers advantages including lower cost, longer reagent stability, and no requirement for elaborate equipment compared to RIA.

Conclusions:

• The adapted ELISA is a sensitive and reliable method for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) determination.
• ELISA presents a cost-effective and practical alternative to RIA for AFP measurement.
• This method is suitable for routine clinical laboratory use.