| Autoimmune
Thyroiditis
Anti-Thyroid
antibodies (TAB)
Autoimmune
thyroid gland disorders are characterised
by the detection of anti-thyroid antibodies
against thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid
peroxidase (TPO). Both of these thyroid
components play key roles in the biosynthesis
of thyroid hormones. TPO has been identified
as the specific antigenic determinant
of the thyroid microsomal antigen.
Circulating
autoantibodies to Tg and TPO are present
in up to 90% of patients with thyroiditis,
idiopathic hypothyroidism, Graves’
disease and subacute thyroiditis. The
presence of anti-TPO antibodies is in
each case more common and in higher
levels than in anti-Tg antibodies.
Of
all the autoimmune conditions, Graves’
disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
are perhaps the easiest to treat, provided
that they are detected at an early stage.
This requires sensitive detection of antibodies
to Tg and TPO, together with the ability
to monitor the antibody response to drugs,
radiotherapy or surgery.
Anti-Thyroid
antibodies ELISA Format
The
assays are available in two differing
formats, these are MELISA™
and AUTOZYME™. Both formats
are based on the sandwich ELISA principle
and
both use recombinant human TPO on the
solid phase.
MELISA™
- innovative technology
MELISA™
stands for Micropin Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent
Assay. In contrast with conventional
ELISA technology in which the immunological
reaction takes place on the surface
of microwells, MELISA™ uses a transferable
solid phase system – micropins.
All reaction steps are performed in
separate microwells. The immunological
reaction and the enzyme substrate reaction
occur on the surface of the micropin.
Thus, incubations are simultaneous and
as a result there is no possibility
of "drift".
The
technology offers:
- Short
incubation times
- Simultaneous
incubations – no assay drift
- Simple
washing – no extra equipment
required
- Long
shelf-life
- Batch
processing methodology
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