Which laboratory technique uses antibodies to detect specific proteins?

The technique that uses antibodies to detect specific proteins is known as the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, commonly referred to as ELISA. This method employs antibodies that specifically bind to the target proteins in a sample, allowing for the quantification and identification of these proteins.

In ELISA, a sample is added to a plate coated with a capture antibody specific to the target protein. If the target protein is present, it will bind to the capture antibody. Following this, a secondary antibody, which is linked to an enzyme, is added. This secondary antibody also binds to the target protein, creating a complex. When a substrate for the enzyme is introduced, a measurable signal is produced, indicating the presence and quantity of the target protein.

Other methods listed, such as immunofluorescence, also use antibodies but primarily focus on visualizing proteins in cells or tissue sections using fluorescent labels rather than quantifying them in a sample. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) uses labeled DNA or RNA probes to detect specific nucleic acid sequences, not proteins. Gas chromatography is a technique specifically designed for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized, and it does not involve antibodies or the detection of proteins. Thus, ELISA