describe a situation that illustrates why it is a good idea to complete the elisa in triplicate.

A good illustration of why it is a good idea to complete an ELISA assay in triplicate is that triplicate measurements allow significantly greater control of and compensation for errors compared to single or duplicate measurements. When a sample is tested in triplicate, outliers or erroneous measurements can be identified and excluded based on predefined criteria such as high variability or deviation from the mean. This allows for more accurate and precise quantification of the analyte concentration because the average calculated from the remaining consistent replicates is more likely to represent the true value of the sample. In contrast, duplicates allow error detection but do not enable correction, while single measurements do not allow error detection at all. Thus, performing ELISA in triplicate improves data reliability and statistical confidence, which is particularly important when precise and accurate results are required. For example, in research or diagnostic settings where decisions depend on accurate measurement, triplicates can prevent false readings caused by pipetting errors, contamination, or other technical issues, ultimately ensuring robustness of the assay results.