Elispot assay
Synonym(s)
ELISPOT
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
EliSpot = acronym for "Enzyme-linked immunospot assay"; this is a standardised, highly sensitive test system for the detection of antigen- or pathogen-specific T cells.
General informationThis section has been translated automatically.
EliSpots are used to detect T-cells that are activated due to an immune reaction, e.g. an infection in the organism. These activated cells can be measured based on their cytokine release. This cytokine release can be made visible as a "spot" in flow cytometry.
Clinical pictureThis section has been translated automatically.
Previous clinical applications: Used as "gold standard" in HIV vaccine development. Further applications in tuberculosis diagnostics, allergological questions (e.g. drug sensitization) and other infectious diseases (e.g. hepatitis).
Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.
Advantages of the EliSpot over other test methods:
- By detecting cytokine-expressing specific T cells, the EliSpot is significantly more sensitive than an ELISA test.
- In contrast to the EliSpot, the Lymphocyte Transformation Test (LTT) detects only the dividing cells; differentiation of the (dividing B and T cells) individual cells is not possible in this method.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Niemer MA et al (2011) Allergological diagnostics in Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS): Clinical case study and in vitro investigation of allergen-specific T cells using ELISPOT. Abstract CD 46th DDG meeting: P02/19.