Macrophage Chemokine Ligand 10 (CXCL10) Competition ELISA Kit (MTS-1123-HM114)

A competitive ELISA is often preferred when analyte concentrations are high or when a two‑antibody sandwich format may saturate or be limited by epitope availability. In this assay, CXCL10 in your sample competes with a labeled CXCL10 tracer for a finite number of antibody binding sites on the plate. When sample CXCL10 increases, it blocks more tracer from binding, producing a lower color signal; therefore, lower OD corresponds to higher CXCL10. The key is to rely on the standard curve, which is constructed specifically for this inverse relationship. For clear communication, show your team a plot of standards where concentration rises as OD falls, and emphasize that the curve is still quantitative as long as standards and controls behave consistently across the run.

Because CXCL10 can vary widely, begin with a pilot dilution series to identify the range where your samples fall within the standard curve-common starting points are 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, and 1:50 for highly induced conditions. Use the same diluent for all samples within a cohort, and avoid switching between serum and plasma without additional validation, as matrix differences can shift binding behavior. If you notice non‑parallelism compared with standards, further dilution often reduces matrix interference and improves accuracy. Include a consistent internal control sample on every plate, plus replicate standards, to monitor shifts in assay performance over time. Finally, keep incubation timing consistent and use identical plate washing routines, since small procedural changes can impact competitive binding equilibria and affect inter‑plate comparability.

Competitive ELISAs can be completed relatively quickly, but strong quality checks are essential because the signal differences can be subtle. First, confirm that the blank and zero standard produce the expected high signal, and that standards decrease smoothly with concentration. Second, run samples in duplicates or triplicates and watch for high CVs, which often indicate pipetting or washing inconsistency. Third, verify that samples fall within the curve; results outside the range are unreliable and should be re‑run at different dilutions. Also confirm plate reader settings and that substrate incubation time is consistent across wells, since timing drift can distort competitive curves. When reporting, clearly state that the assay is inverse‑signal and document the curve fit method, so downstream users understand how concentrations were derived.