ELISpot (Enzyme‑Linked ImmunoSpot) is a proven immunoassay for identifying and quantifying antigen‑specific immune responses with exceptional sensitivity. Instead of measuring analytes in solution, ELISpot detects individual cells actively secreting cytokines, antibodies, or other immune mediators—making it ideal for studying rare T‑ and B‑cell populations.
Mabtech ELISpot kits are widely used in both research and clinical development settings, offering consistent performance, optimized protocols, and robust results even when working with limited cell numbers.
Key Advantages
- High sensitivity – Detects rare antigen‑specific T or B cells that may be missed by bulk assays
- Single‑cell resolution – Direct measurement of functional immune responses
- Broad analyte portfolio – Available for more than 40 cytokines and immune markers
- Consistent performance – Optimized components ensure reproducibility across experiments
- Flexible formats – Multiple kit configurations to match different workflows
So how does ELISpot work?
The assay works similarly to ELISA, but instead of measuring an analyte in solution, it detects the cells secreting that analyte. Immune cells are stimulated in wells pre-coated with capture antibodies specific to the analyte of interest. Responding cells secrete the analyte, which is immediately captured by the antibodies on the plate. After incubation, the cells are washed away, and detection antibodies are added, followed by visualization reagents to reveal spots. Each spot represents an individual responding cell, offering a precise and quantifiable measure of immune activity.
Want to learn more about the ELISpot assay principle?
Applications
T‑Cell ELISpot
ELISpot is used to investigate antigen‑specific T‑cell responses across many research areas, including:
- Infectious disease research (e.g. viral, bacterial, and parasitic immunity)
- Cancer and immuno‑oncology
- Allergy and autoimmune disease studies
- Vaccine development and evaluation
IFN‑γ ELISpot is commonly used as a benchmark method to assess cell‑mediated vaccine responses, but assays are available for many additional cytokines, including TNF‑α, IL‑2, Granzyme B, and others.
Immunotherapy
ELISpot is a valuable potency and functional assay in the development of CAR‑T cells, TIL therapies, and gene‑modified immune cells. It enables sensitive detection of cytokine release from engineered or transduced cells and supports functional characterization aligned with regulatory expectations.
Infectious Disease
ELISpot can also be used to characterize cellular immune responses in infectious disease research. By enabling direct quantification of pathogen‑specific cytokine‑secreting cells, the assay supports studies across a broad range of diseases, including tuberculosis, SARS‑CoV‑2, malaria, and HIV. Its high sensitivity and robust single‑cell readout make ELISpot a valuable tool for both immunological diagnostics and vaccine‑related research.
Vaccines
In vaccine research and development, ELISpot is commonly applied to evaluate antigen‑specific T‑cell responses. The assay allows researchers to investigate immune memory, identify relevant vaccine epitopes, assess the impact of adjuvants, and monitor the magnitude and durability of cellular immune responses following immunization.
B‑Cell ELISpot
B‑cell ELISpot is one of the few methods that measures antibodies at the moment of secretion, rather than in serum.
This approach allows researchers to:
- Quantify antibody‑secreting cells (ASCs)
- Evaluate memory B‑cell responses after vaccination or infection
- Detect antigen‑specific B‑cell activity using native antigens
Memory responses can be assessed following in‑vitro stimulation of PBMCs, providing valuable insight into long‑term humoral immunity.
ELISpot Kit Formats
ELISpot Flex | ELISpot Plus | ELISpot Pro | ELISpot Path |
|---|---|---|---|
Adaptable | Complete and Reproducible | Time‑Saving One‑Step Detection | Antigen‑Specific Assays |
A flexible format for laboratories that already have ELISpot plates and substrate.
| An all‑inclusive kit containing all components required to run the assay, including positive controls (for selected species).
| Designed for faster workflows while maintaining performance.
| A ready‑to‑use solution including peptide pools and controls for defined immune targets.
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Mabtech
The Swedish biotech company Mabtech emerged from the Department of Immunology at Stockholm University in 1986. Mabtech develops and manufactures high quality monoclonal antibodies and kits for ELISA, ELISpot and FluoroSpot and is a world leader in advancing the ELISpot and FluoroSpot methods.
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