ELISA is a plate-based assay designed for detecting virus in grapevine leaf and cane samples. The virus is first immobilised onto the plate by attachment to an antibody than detected indirectly using an enzyme labelled secondary antibody that can produce a measurable colour reaction. This type of capture assay is called a “sandwich” assay because the virus to be measured is bound between two primary antibodies – the capture antibody and the detection antibody. The sandwich format is used because it is sensitive and robust.

PCR is a technique used in molecular biology to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence. It can be used to detect a wide variety of viruses in grapevines and detection of ASBVd in Avocados.