Hook Effect

Mitigating the Hook Effect in High-Viral Load Samples

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False Negatives at Peak Infection In acute phases (e.g., COVID-19 or CRP spikes), excess antigen can saturate antibodies, causing the Test line to fade. This “Hook Effect” is dangerous. Three-Line Architecture We recommend adding a third “Hook Line” or using Due Bio’s high-capacity sample pads to sequester excess antigen, extending the linear range of your … Read more

Troubleshooting the High-Dose Hook Effect in Lateral Flow Assays

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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 … Read more