Understanding Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) The Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, or ELISA, is a popular laboratory technique for detecting the presence of specific chemicals in a sample, such as hormones, viruses, and bacteria. The procedure begins with coating a plate with antibodies that bind to the desired substance, followed by adding the sample to the plate. The substance will bind to the antibodies if it is present in the sample....