Immune System, Disease, and ELISA Assays

In this laboratory activity, students will develop an understanding of how antigens and antibodies work while experiencing a biomedical application of those processes. Students will share sample “body fluids” and then perform an antibody-capture ELISA assay to determine who was infected with the chosen disease (HIV, SARS, anthrax, etc.). Students will then construct a method to determine who in the class originally had the disease and passed it on to others in the group. This lab is most-suitable for AP Biology and Anatomy & Physiology courses but can also be adapted for Life Science and Biology classes that cover basic blood and immune system response topics.