Skip to main content

ELISPOT Assay

Meaning

The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Spot (ELISPOT) assay is a highly sensitive immunodiagnostic technique used to quantify the frequency of cytokine-secreting immune cells, most commonly T cells or B cells, within a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) sample. This functional assay allows for the precise measurement of individual immune cells actively producing a specific cytokine or antibody in response to a particular antigen or stimulus. In clinical and research settings, the ELISPOT assay is invaluable for assessing cellular immunity, monitoring vaccine efficacy, and characterizing autoimmune responses with exceptional resolution. It provides a direct and quantitative measure of functional immune memory.