The VeriKine Mouse Interferon Beta ELISA Kit has been developed to quantitate levels of IFN-β in tissue culture media or serum samples in a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format with recombinant mouse IFN-beta expressed in mammalian cells provided as the standard in the kit. Interferons bind to plates coated with antibody and detection is accomplished using a secondary antibody followed by streptavidin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). This ELISA kit utilizes Tetramethyl-benzidine (TMB) as the substrate.

Interferons (IFNs) are a group of cytokines which exhibit pleitropic activities that play major roles in both innate and adaptive immunity. Type 1 IFNs consist of multiple Interferon Alpha (IFN-α) genes and at least one Interferon Beta (IFN-β) gene in most vertebrates.

IFN-β is primarily known for its antiviral activity, but also has anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects. It plays a pivotal role in the protective response to many infections and diseases, but when over expressed or produced unchecked it can also contribute to the generation of clinically relevant side effects and pathological processes. IFN-β is a common therapeutic treatment for multiple sclerosis and some cancers with the research into these diseases often conducted in mice.