Preventing further misuse of the ELISA technique and misinterpretation of serological antibody assay data

Abstract The indirect ELISA is a widely utilized method to assay serum antibodies. However, a common and critical problem when analyzing serum antibodies is the disregard for the background noise reaction caused by the hydrophobic binding of immunoglobulin components in serum components to plastic. Unfortunately, current blocking agents cannot prevent this background noise reaction. To prevent further misuse of the ELISA technique, it is important to openly discuss the fundamental problems involved in the ELISA system.