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| ==Technique== | | ==Technique== |
− | *The antigen is often labelled with a gamma-emitting isotope, e.g. iodine-125 | + | *The antigen is often labeled with a gamma-emitting isotope, e.g. iodine-125 |
− | **Beta-emtting isotopes such as tritium are also often used | + | **Beta-emitting isotopes such as tritium are also often used |
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− | # Determine the amount of antibody required to bind ~50% of radiolabelled antigen in mixture- ''required to ensure the number of epitopes presented by labelled antigen exceeds number of antibody binding sites'' | + | # Determine the amount of antibody required to bind ~50% of radiolabeled antigen in mixture- ''required to ensure the number of epitopes presented by labeled antigen exceeds number of antibody binding sites'' |
− | # Add unlabelled antigen to mixture | + | # Add unlabeled antigen to mixture |
| # Separate antigen-antibody complex from free antigen by precipitation | | # Separate antigen-antibody complex from free antigen by precipitation |
| # Measure radioactivity in precipitate | | # Measure radioactivity in precipitate |
| *There are various methods to separate the antigen-antibody complexes from the free antigen: | | *There are various methods to separate the antigen-antibody complexes from the free antigen: |
− | **Precipitate complexes using secondary isotype-specific antiimmunoglobulin | + | **Precipitate complexes using secondary isotype-specific anti-immunoglobulin |
| **If complex contains IgG, it can be removed by mixing with formalin-killed ''Staphylococcus aureus''- protein A of ''S. aureus'' has a high affinity for IgG | | **If complex contains IgG, it can be removed by mixing with formalin-killed ''Staphylococcus aureus''- protein A of ''S. aureus'' has a high affinity for IgG |
− | *** Removal of the complex by either of these methods leaves an amount of free labelled antigen in the supernatant (liquid section from precipitation)- the radioactivity of this can be measured and the value taken away from the total amount of labelled antigen added (known amount)= amount of bound labelled antigen | + | *** Removal of the complex by either of these methods leaves an amount of free labeled antigen in the supernatant (liquid section from precipitation)- the radioactivity of this can be measured and the value taken away from the total amount of labeled antigen added (known amount)= amount of bound labeled antigen |
| **A number of solid-phase RIAs have been developed | | **A number of solid-phase RIAs have been developed |
− | ***Sometimes the antibody can be absorbed onto the surface- the amount of radiolabelled antigen bound to the beads can be measured after washing | + | ***Sometimes the antibody can be absorbed onto the surface- the amount of radiolabeled antigen bound to the beads can be measured after washing |
| ***Antibody can be immobilised on PVC or polystyrene | | ***Antibody can be immobilised on PVC or polystyrene |
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