Enzyme Labels
•Definition:
•enzymes are highly specific proteins that alter the rate at which a reaction proceeds
•Examples:
•peroxidase (horseradish)
•alkaline phosphatase
•Characteristics of a good enzyme for clinical use:
•9foreign - not present in patient=s body fluids being tested
•9specific activity - not altred by attachment to ag or ab
•9stable - activity does not change during course of assay
•9cheap
•9readily available
•9long shelf-life
•9produces colored products
•9assay can be automated