🔬 ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)

• Purpose: Detects antigens or antibodies in blood or other samples.
• Use: Common in serological testing (e.g., HIV, hepatitis, dengue).
• Strengths: High specificity, cost-effective, scalable for large populations.

🧬 PCR & qPCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

• Purpose: Amplifies DNA/RNA sequences to detect pathogens.
• Use:
  • PCR: Identifies presence of pathogen DNA/RNA.
  • qPCR: Quantifies pathogen genetic material for viral load monitoring.
• Strengths: High sensitivity and specificity, fast turnaround, clinical-grade diagnostics.

🧫 Nanopore Sequencing

• Purpose: Real-time DNA/RNA sequencing using nanopores.
• Use:
  • Identifies unknown or emerging pathogens.
  • Tracks mutations and resistance genes.
  • Supports metagenomics directly from clinical samples.
• Strengths: Portable, real-time data, long-read capability, ideal for outbreak settings.

🧪 Integrated Applications

This multi-method approach enables:

• Screening: via ELISA
• Confirmation & Quantification: using PCR/qPCR
• Genomic Analysis: through nanopore sequencing

Useful in:

• Outbreak investigation
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance
• Zoonotic disease monitoring