Western blot

An assay that detects specific proteins within a protein mixture by a multistep process consisting of electrophoresis on a slab gel, transfer of the proteins on the gel to a membrane followed by identification of the specific proteins by antibody staining

Western blot

Immunoblot Molecular diagnostics An assay that IDs antibodies to proteins of specific molecular weights, used to confirm HIV infection–after a positive ELISA screening assay, Lyme disease. See Blot, Electrophoresis, Protein. Cf Northern blot, Southern blot.

West·ern blot a·nal·y·sis

(wes'tĕrn blot ă-nal'i-sis)

A procedure in which proteins separated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels are transferred (blotted) onto nitrocellulose or nylon membranes and identified by specific complexing with antibodies that are either pre- or post-tagged with a labeled secondary protein.
See also: immunoblot
Synonym(s): Western blot, Western blotting.

[coined to distinguish it from eponymic Southern blot a.]

Western blot

A technique developed in 1979 that is used to confirm ELISA results. HIV antigen is purified by electrophoresis and attached by blotting to a nylon or nitrocellulose filter. The patient's serum is reacted against the filter, followed by treatment with developing chemicals that allow HIV antibody to show up as a colored patch or blot. If the patient is HIV-positive, there will be stripes at specific locations for two or more viral proteins. A negative result is blank.

Mentioned in: AIDS Tests

Western blot

an immunologic technique for the detection of proteins using a radioactive probe. Called also Western transfer.