ELISA readers, also known as microplate readers, are laboratory instruments designed to measure and quantify the results of an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test. These devices detect the optical signals produced during the assay, typically by measuring absorbance, fluorescence, or luminescence in the microplates where the ELISA reaction takes place.
The most common ELISA readers measure absorbance, where a specific wavelength of light passes through each well in the microplate, and the amount of light absorbed correlates with the concentration of the target molecule. ELISA readers provide fast, accurate results, making them essential in clinical diagnostics, research laboratories, and pharmaceutical testing to analyze data from a wide range of biological and chemical assays.