Understanding the basic principles of immunoassays is easy. The essential components of antibody-based immunoassay systems are threefold: an antigen that we would like to detect and perhaps quantitate; a specific antibody to this antigen; and a system to measure the amount of antigen in a given sample. Although it appears to be a very simple system, in many cases a number of other assay materials are necessary to allow for quick and convenient measurement. Not all assays are antibody-based. Some assays utilize simple enzymatic reactions to detect small molecules or perhaps measure the activity of an enzyme sample.

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