Immunoblot

In the immunoblot, antigens coated on membranes are used as a solid phase in order to detect specific antibodies in patient samples by means of an enzymatic colour reaction. The test is performed either manually, semi- or fully automatically. If a sample contains specific antibodies, these bind to the membrane-bound antigens. In the next step, an alkaline phosphatase (AP)-labelled antibody (conjugate) is added, which binds to the specific antibodies. The alkaline phosphatase catalyses a colour reaction with the subsequently added nitro blue tetrazolium chloride/5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (NBT/BCIP). If specific antibodies are present in the patient sample, a dark line appears at the respective antigen position. The intensity of the resulting staining is proportional to the antibody concentration in the sample.

EUROLINE

EUROLINE assays are multiparameter line blots that allow the generation of comprehensive combined antibody profiles on one test strip. Membrane strips with multiple purified, biochemically characterised antigens or antigen extracts as thin parallel lines are used as the antigen-containing solid phase. The membranes are fixed in the form of chips at precisely defined positions on a plastic film. The membrane strips do not contain superfluous proteins that may lead to unspecific positive results. A control band on each EUROLINE test strip indicates whether the individual incubation steps have been performed correctly. The evaluation is performed fully automatically with the EUROLineScan software.

Westernblot and EUROLINE-WB

The Westernblot is the method of choice to confirm or differentiate positive results obtained with a screening test (indirect immunofluorescence or ELISA). Blot strips are used as antigen-containing solid phase. They are coated with antigen extracts electrophoretically separated by molecular mass.

EUROLINE-WB assays combine Westernblot with the EUROLINE technology: The Westernblot strips are additionally coated with highly purified native or recombinant antigens in the form of membrane chips. The correct performance of the individual incubation steps is indicated by the staining of the control band. The evaluation is performed fully automatically with the EUROLineScan software.

EUROMicroblots

EUROMicroblots are miniaturised multiparameter line blots in microplate format. The microplate wells contain test strips printed with purified antigens and controls at defined positions. The break-off wells can be separated individually so that the number of analyses can be flexibly adapted to the actual need. By providing the immunoblot in a microplate format, screening and confirmatory tests can be processed on the same automated ELISA system, making optimum use of the free capacity of existing instruments. The evaluation is carried out fully automatically using the Microwell Imager and the EUROLineScan software.​