Which of the following immunoassay techniques would be the best for screening thousands of specimens for COVID-19?

• A. Fluorescent antibody tests.
• B. Western blotting.
• C. ELISA.
• D. None of the above.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of the question, which is to identify the most suitable immunoassay technique for screening a large number of specimens for COVID-19 efficiently.
2. Step 2: Review the characteristics of each immunoassay technique mentioned: Fluorescent antibody tests, Western blotting, and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).
3. Step 3: Consider the throughput and practicality of each method. Fluorescent antibody tests are specific but may require specialized equipment and are less suited for very high throughput. Western blotting is highly specific but labor-intensive and time-consuming, making it impractical for screening thousands of samples.
4. Step 4: Recognize that ELISA is designed for high-throughput screening, allowing many samples to be processed simultaneously with relatively simple equipment and automation options, making it ideal for large-scale testing.
5. Step 5: Conclude that ELISA is the best choice for screening thousands of specimens for COVID-19 due to its balance of sensitivity, specificity, scalability, and efficiency.