<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

In my recent post about food allergy testing, I mentioned
that I had an ELISA test.  Here's a definition of ELISA
from Mosby's Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health
Dictionary.  It gets a little medical-technical.

Nancy

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay  (ELISA)

A laboratory teechnique for detecting specific antigens or
antibodies, using enzyme-labeled immunoreactants and a
solid-phase binding support, such as a test tube.  A number of
different enzymes can be used, including carbonic anhydrase,
glucose oxidase, and alkaline phosphatase.  Labeling is
done by covalently binding the enzyme to the test
substance through an enzyme-protein coupling agent,
such as glutaralydehyde.  Products of the reaction may be
detected by fluorimetry or photometry.  ELISA is nearly
as sensitive as radioimmunoassay and more sensitive than
complement-fixation, agglutination, and other techniques.
It is commonly employed in the diagnosis of HIV infections.