Frequently asked Questions

faq page imageThis part of the homepage should answer you some questions, our customer support gets asked very often.
 
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We tried to make our products as self explaining and fail proof as possible but sometimes questions occur:

Are any ELISA components exchangeable between different tests?

Wash buffer, sample buffer, substrate, stop solution. Never mix standards or conjugate!

Are any ELISA components exchangeable between different lots?

Wash buffer, sample buffer, substrate, stop solution. Never mix standards or conjugate!

Why do some kit components have different expiration dates?

The stability of the various components is different. The expiry date for the whole kit is determined by the component with the lowest shelf life, that’s usually the conjugate.

Can I order individual kit components separately?

Yes, for the wash solution, sample buffer, substrate and stop. Please give us the reference and lot number.

Can plasma also be used in our ELISA kits?

Yes, all kinds of plasma can be used just like serum.

Does shipping at ambient temperature affect kit quality?

No. Our stability tests prove sufficient stability even at 56°C. However, the kits should be stored at 2-8°C upon receipt.

Can kits be frozen to increase shelf-life?

NO! Never freeze the kits or any component out of it. Freezing will destroy the reagents and the coating of the plate.

Can I omit a standard to create extra sample wells?

No. Only a six-point-calibration gives exact results. We do not guarantee for results made with fewer than six standards.

Why are my OD values different from the QC certificate?

OD values in the QC certificate have been measured under standardized conditions in our QC lab. Immunological and enzymatic reactions are highly temperature dependent, thus the differences between different labs.

Why do we sometimes see significantly different results between the same test from different manufacturers?

The majority of autoimmune ELISA tests are not standardized and there are significant differences between the antigen quality/source. In those comparisons, the “gold standard” should always be the clinical data of the patients.

Why is there a grey zone only on the Automatic line kits?

We have introduced a grey zone in the Automatic line due to the inter- and intra- lab variability caused by the temperature fluctuations on the different automated systems. The grey zone allows a clear and easier discrimination of the results around the cut-off value, especially when using automated systems.

Does the grey zone change the cut-off value?

No. The cut-off calibrator value still being 15 U/ml. The correct equivocal range was determined by testing 384 samples of healthy blood donors and it was calculated as a sum of the mean value plus 3 x standard deviation. The lower limit (12 U/ml) resulted from the 95% percentile and the upper limit (18 U/ml) from the 99% percentile.