Hi. I have a question regarding MMP-3 detection. Why do most paper use wester blot instead of ELISA? I also found out ELISA kit is also available and the process looks more simple.
Thanks in advanced.
April.
ELISA is only preferrable if you are using a very specific antibody, since you cannot distinguish between specific and unspecific binding. Since in Western Blot proteins are separated by size, you can easily make this difference. You can avoid "false positives".
For some proteins you also have the case that they have different isoforms with different molecular weights but the antibody is detecting all forms. In ELISA you cannot see any difference, only in Western Blot.
There are also proteins where it's hard to find a very specific antibody.
There is also a difference in quantification. In ELISA you get a quantitative value (concentration) due to a calibration (calibrants are usually included in the test kit). A Western Blot is only semi-quantitative and difficult to calibrate. Therefore, you first have to decide, what kind of information you need - both methods have their pros and cons.
Two independent methods are always better than only one. However, be aware that the results might be different and need further interpretation. Remember the story of the group of blind men and the elephant...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant
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