From the late 1960s, ELISA tests play a role in diagnostic research over 50 years. The origin of ELISA was the idea of finding an alternative method to substitute radioimmunoassay (RIA) in immunoassay.  Before the invention of ELISA, RIA is the only method to conduct immunoassay. Actually, the invention of RIA was not much earlier than ELISA. The First paper introduced this technique was published in 1960 by Rosalyn Sussman Yalow and Solomon Berson.

However, the concerns of potential safety and health problems coming with the initiation of  RIA. Scientists proposed to find another labeling method to replace radioactive label.  Some of them came up with an idea to use enzyme labels in immunoassay. But, many thought it is impossible to link the enzyme, such as large molecule, to an antibody or antigen without affecting their bioactivity in conjugating reaction. Although met with skepticism and criticisms, Perlmann and Schuurs independently invented the method to prove the using of enzyme-linked immunoassay is feasible in 1966. And following in 1966-1970, other scientists continually polish and improve methods, including resolving two critical issues for ELISA, which are “reaction associated color changing” and “ removing non-specific conjugation”.

Finally in 1971, Peter Perlmann and Eva Engvall at Stockholm University in Sweden (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quantitative assay of immunoglobulin G), and Anton Schuurs and Bauke van Weemen in the Netherlands (Immunoassay using antigen—enzyme conjugates)

independently published papers that systematically introducing EIA/ ELISA methods. ELISA tests developed rapidly in the 1970s and early 1980s, and revolute into commercial clinical used products what we use now.

In the above content, we have introduced the main history of ELISA. But the imaginations and insights from the other scientist also contributed to the ELISA test development. For example, the concept of immunoassay minaturisation is conceived in 1963 by J.G. Feinberg and A.W.Wheeler. They invented a “microspot” & cellulose acetate strips method to detect autoimmune antibody of thyroglobolin in patients. We can find the ideas and concept of today’s ELISA test plate from their devices.