Question

ELISA is used to detect viruses, where

• A. Alkaline phosphatase is the key reagent.
• B. Catalase is the key reagent.
• C. DNA-probes are required.
• D. Southern blotting is done.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Alkaline phosphatase is the key reagent.

Alkaline phosphatase is used as dye for the ELISA, it develops a yellow reaction product when reaction occurs with a substrate in the microtiter plate. If a particular virus is present then, the secondary antibody conjugated to the alkaline phosphatase develops prominent yellow colour on reaction with the enzyme. The rest of the places where there is no virus gives very pale yellow colour.

Thus, alkaline phosphatase is the key reagent used in ELISA to detect viruses.