Q: How does the sensitivity of your MDA ELISA Kit compare to the TBARS Assay?
A: The MDA Adduct Competitive ELISA Kit is more sensitive than the TBARS Assay, but actually the two assays are not directly comparable. The MDA ELISA is more specific and only measures MDA protein adducts, while TBARS measures total MDA, including free MDA and MDA adducts, resulting in higher values with the TBARS assay compared to the MDA Adduct ELISA. If you are using samples that have a high hemoglobin content, you may want to consider using the ELISA since hemoglobin can interfere with the TBARS Assay.
Q: Why does your kit manual recommend using samples less than 1 month old?
A: The storage guidelines refer to the MDA modification, which is not very stable, and can begin to degrade after 1 month of storage at -80ºC. Degradation may not be an issue if you are only interested in relative comparisons between samples that have been stored for the same length of time. It may be more difficult to detect MDA in older samples, but this will depend on the initial level of MDA and the extent of degradation.
Q: Are EDTA plasma samples compatible with your kits?
A: EDTA will not interfere with our MDA ELISA Kits and any anticoagulant can be used when preparing plasma samples.
Q: Is your MDA Adduct ELISA Kit compatible with samples of any species?
A: Our MDA Adduct ELISA Kit is not species specific and can be used with samples from any species.
Q: Is the MDA Adduct Competitive ELISA kit compatible with tissue lysates?
A: Tissue samples are compatible with this assay and lysates can be prepared in any lysis buffer.
Q: What cell number should I use in the ELISA?
A: Unfortunately we do not have a recommended cell number to use when preparing lysates, because this will depend on the MDA level of the sample, which will be different for each researcher. Our recommendation is to start with the most concentrated sample possible and prepare further dilutions later, if necessary, after running a small scale sample titration against the standard curve.