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ELISA Sample Preparation & Collection Guide

The ELISA sample collection and storage conditions listed below are intended as general guidelines. Specific protocols may vary by cell line or tissue type. If storing sample for extended length of time, testing sample stability is recommended. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles for all sample types.

Serum - Use a serum separator tube (SST) and allow samples to clot for 30 minutes at room temperature before centrifugation for 15 minutes at 1000 x g. Remove serum and assay immediately or aliquot and store samples at ≤ -20 °C.

Plasma - Collect plasma using EDTA, heparin, or citrate as an anticoagulant. Centrifuge for 15 minutes at 1000 x g within 30 minutes of collection. Assay immediately or aliquot and store samples at ≤ -20 °C.

Platelet-poor Plasma - Collect plasma using EDTA, heparin, or citrate as an anticoagulant. Centrifuge for 15 minutes at 1000 x g within 30 minutes of collection. An additional centrifugation step of the plasma at 10,000 x g for 10 minutes at 2-8 °C is recommended for complete platelet removal. Assay immediately or aliquot and store samples at ≤ -20 °C.

Cell Culture Supernates - Remove particulates by centrifugation at 500 x g for 5 minutes. Remove supernate and assay immediately or aliquot and store samples at ≤ -20 °C.

Tissue Homogenates - The preparation of tissue homogenates will vary depending upon tissue type. Rinse tissue with 1X PBS to remove excess blood, homogenized in 20 mL of 1X PBS and stored overnight at ≤ -20 °C. After two freeze-thaw cycles were performed to break the cell membranes, the homogenates were centrifuged for 5 minutes at 5000 x g. The supernate was removed immediately and assayed. Alternatively, aliquot and store samples at ≤ -20 °C.

Cell Lysates - Solubilize cell in lysis buffer and allow to sit on ice for 30 minutes. Centrifuge tubes at 14,000 x g for 5 minutes to remove insoluble material. Aliquot the supernatant into a new tube and discard the remaining whole cell extract. Quantify total protein concentration using a total protein assay. Assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20 °C.

Tissue Lysates – Rinse tissue with PBS, cut into 1-2 mm pieces, and homogenize with a tissue homogenizer in PBS. Add an equal volume of RIPA buffer containing protease inhibitors and lyse tissues at room temperature for 30 minutes with gentle agitation. Centrifuge to remove debris. Quantify total protein concentration using a total protein assay. Assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20 °C.

Saliva - Collect saliva in a tube and centrifuge for 5 minutes at 10,000 x g. Collect the aqueous layer, assay immediately or aliquot and store samples at ≤ -20 °C.

Urine - Aseptically collect the first urine of the day (mid-stream), voided directly into a sterile container. Centrifuge to remove particulate matter. Assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20 °C.

Human Milk - Centrifuge for 15 minutes at 1000 x g at 2-8 °C. Collect the aqueous fraction and repeat this process a total of 3 times. Assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20 °C. R&D Systems offers an extensive ELISA portfolio for your research.

 

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