The VeriKine Human Interferon Alpha Multi-Subtype Serum ELISA kit is designed to provide accurate measurement of global human IFN-alpha amount in serum and plasma samples. This kit quantitates human IFN-alpha in human sera, plasma and tissue culture media using a sandwich immunoassay. The kit is based on an ELISA with anti-detection antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Tetramethyl-benzidine (TMB) is the substrate. The assay is based on the international reference standard for human interferon alpha (Hu-IFN-a) provided by the National Institutes of Health. This kit can detect 14 different human IFN-alpha subtypes/alleles providing a better view of IFN-alpha production in a sample analysis. 

Interferons (IFNs) are a family of cytokines produced by macrophage, neutrophils, dendritic cells and other somatic cells in response to viruses and pathogens. Interferon Alpha (IFN-alpha), a type I interferon, was one of the first FDA approved biotherapeutic treatments. Additionally, there is a growing amount of evidence suggesting IFN-alpha may be involved in certain autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Accurate and reproducible detection of IFN-alpha in human serum or plasma plays an important role in advancing immunological investigation and drug discovery.