Abstract

Objectives: To review the use of immunoassays in the diagnosis and research of disorders affecting the nervous system.

Methods: Systematic review of the English literature.

Results: Immunoassays have demonstrated utility for: (1) the detection of antigen (molecules, genes, gene products, peptides, hormones and drug metabolites) and (2) the detection of an immune response (antigen–antibody complexes and specific and non-specific populations of antibodies) in serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and central nervous system tissue.

Discussion: The specificity of the antibody–antigen interaction makes immunoassays an ideal diagnostic and research tool for the investigation of neurological disease. A number of immunoassays are available for this purpose, and the choice of a particular methodology generally depends upon whether one is detecting antigen, antibody or antigen–antibody complexes, and the nature of the biologic sample that is being tested. Ease of testing, sensitivity, specificity and cost are other important considerations.