What is the Hook Effect?
The high-dose hook effect occurs when an excess of antigen saturates both the capture and detection antibodies, leading to a false negative or weak signal. This is a common pitfall in assays designed for high-abundance targets like CRP or Ferritin.
Solution: Dilution & Membrane Capacity
To mitigate this, one must optimize the sample dilution factor. Additionally, using a membrane with higher protein binding capacity, such as Due Bio Universal Strips (High-Bind formulation), can extend the dynamic range of your assay.