Serologic Analysis by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

One of the basic requirements for assessing the value of a vaccine candidate is measuring its immunogenicity. This can be done in a variety of ways, with focus on either the humoral or cellular arm of the response, or both. Assay of the humoral response, at minimum, requires the ability to measure changes in antibodies directed against specific antigens. Often, these antigens will be whole proteins. A quick and accurate method for measuring antibody levels against protein antigens is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (1,2). The ELISA assay has been used by vaccine developers for decades and is routinely used for monitoring responses to HIV proteins after infection or vaccination (3–6).