The Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique (EMIT) is a highly sensitive and widely used method in clinical chemistry and toxicology for measuring the concentration of various substances in biological samples. EMIT is an immunoassay technique that uses the catalytic activity of enzymes to detect and quantify target analytes.
In EMIT, antibodies specific to the analyte of interest are coupled to an enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase. The sample containing the analyte is mixed with these enzyme-labeled antibodies. If the specific analyte is present in the sample, it will bind to the enzyme-labeled antibodies, forming an immunocomplex.
The next step involves the addition of a substrate that is specific to the enzyme used. The enzyme catalyzes a reaction between the substrate and a chromogen, resulting in the generation of a colored or fluorescent product. The intensity of the color or fluorescence is directly proportional to the concentration of the analyte in the sample.
EMIT offers several advantages, including high sensitivity, fast analysis time, and broad dynamic range. Due to its specificity and precision, EMIT is widely employed in clinical settings for the detection of various substances, such as drugs, hormones, tumor markers, and infectious agents.
In summary, the Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique is a sensitive and rapid method for detecting and quantifying specific substances in biological samples using enzyme-labeled antibodies and enzyme-catalyzed reactions. It plays a crucial role in medical diagnostics, toxicology, and research laboratories.
