Description
Principle of the Assay: The Human Alpha-fetoglobulin ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kit is an in vitro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantitative measurement of Human Alpha-fetoglobulin in Cell Culture Supernates, Serum, Plasma. This assay employs an antibody specific for Human Alpha-fetoglobulin coated on a 96-well plate. Standards and samples are pipetted into the wells and Alpha-fetoglobulin present in a sample is bound to the wells by the immobilized antibody. The wells are washed and biotinylated anti-Human Alpha-fetoglobulin antibody is added. After washing away unbound biotinylated antibody, HRP-conjugated streptavidin is pipetted to the wells. The wells are again washed, a TMB substrate solution is added to the wells and color develops in proportion to the amount of Alpha-fetoglobulin bound. The Stop Solution changes the color from blue to yellow, and the intensity of the color is measured at 450 nm.
Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP, alpha-fetoprotein; also sometimes called alpha-1-fetoprotein, alpha-fetoglobulin, or alpha fetal protein) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AFP gene. The AFP gene is located on the q arm of chromosome 4 (4q25). AFP is the most abundant plasma protein found in the human fetus. Plasma levels decrease rapidly after birth but begin decreasing prenatally starting at the end of the first trimester. Normal adult levels are usually achieved by the age of 8 to 12 months. The function of AFP in adult humans is unknown; however, in rodents it binds estradiol to prevent the transport of this hormone across the placenta to the fetus. The main function of this is to prevent the virilization of female fetuses. As human AFP does not bind estrogen, its function in humans is less clear