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When conducting biological experiments, many people often struggle between biochemical assay kits and ELISA kits - both are used for sample testing, but why do some experiments choose the former while others must use the latter? One should comprehensively consider factors such as the detection target, required accuracy, ease of operation, and laboratory conditions. Choosing the right one can double the efficiency of the experiment, while choosing the wrong one may waste a lot of effort. Today, using simple language, we will thoroughly explain the differences between the two and help you make a quick and accurate selection!

01. Core Principles

① ELISA Kits

The core of ELISA lies in the specific binding of antigens and antibodies, which is equivalent to "precise positioning" of the target substance.

• It utilizes the ability of antibodies to specifically recognize antigens, combined with the high-efficiency catalytic effect of enzymes to amplify the reaction signal.

• The entire reaction takes place in the wells of a polystyrene microplate. After each incubation step, washing is performed to remove excess "interfering substances," which can greatly reduce non-specific binding.

• Common ELISA determination methods include the double-antibody sandwich method (for detecting antigens) and the competitive method (for detecting small-molecule antigens/half-antigens), with strong targeting.

② Biochemical Assay Kits

The core of biochemical assay kits is the chemical color reaction of substances, which is equivalent to "concentration/activity measurement" of the target substance.

• It does not rely on antigens and antibodies; instead, the target substance in the sample reacts with a chromogenic agent to produce a specific color.

• The reaction process goes through four stages: delay zone, constant velocity zone, transition zone, and equilibrium zone. Different detection methods are used for different stages: the constant velocity zone uses the rate method (for measuring enzyme activity), the transition zone uses the fixed-time method (to improve accuracy), and the equilibrium zone uses the endpoint method (for measuring substance content).

• Finally, the content or activity of the target substance can be calculated by detecting the absorbance at a specific wavelength—the stronger the absorbance, the higher the corresponding substance content or enzyme activity.

02. Key Differences Comparison Table

Comparison Dimension	ELISA Kits	Biochemical Assay Kits
Species Specificity	Species-specific (depends on antigen-antibody matching)	Non-species-specific (universal)
Detection Objects	Small-molecule antigens, half-antigens, hormones, etc.	Various substance contents, enzyme activities, etc.
Result Presentation	Only substance concentration (Unit: μg/mL)	1. Substance concentration (mg/L, mmol/L, etc.); 2. Activity indicators (U/L, U/gprot, etc.)
Core Advantages	Strong specificity, high sensitivity	Wide application range, relatively simple operation

 

03. Practical Selection Suggestions

• If need to detect specific antigens/half-antigens and exclude interference from other substances in the sample—choose an ELISA kit. For example, when detecting specific proteins or small-molecule hormones in samples, its "precision" can greatly reduce cross-reactions.

• If need to measure enzyme activity (such as sucrose synthase or nitrate reductase activity) or simply detect the content of a certain type of substance (such as sucrose or fructose content)—choose a biochemical assay kit. It can directly provide activity indicators without relying on immune pairing.

• If the experimental samples involve multiple species (such as simultaneously testing plant and animal samples)—prioritize biochemical assay kits. There is no need to select separate kits for different species, making the process more convenient.

Small Reminder: Result Correlation Needs Verification

Q: Many people ask: Will the results be consistent when testing the same type of substance with the two kits?

A: Actually, not necessarily. The binding sites of antigens and antibodies may differ from the active sites of chemical reactions. Whether the results of the two are positively correlated, negatively correlated, or irrelevant needs to be verified through a large amount of experimental data, and they cannot be directly substituted for each other.
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For scenarios requiring highly specific and sensitive detection, our ELISA kits cover a variety of detection targets and are compatible with samples of different species. With precise antigen-antibody pairing and strict washing processes, they effectively reduce cross-reactions and ensure stable results, meeting the precise detection needs of scientific research experiments.
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If you need to learn about the specific targets, species compatibility, or experimental protocols of ELISA kits, you can directly consult: (Mr. Zeng: +86 15327141758; Miss Ma: +86 15342250750). Technical experts will provide you with one-on-one selection guidance~

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