Definition of the term eastern blot is somewhat confused due to multiple sets of authors dubbing a new method as eastern blot, or a derivative thereof. All of the definitions are a derivative of the technique of western blot developed by Towbin in 1979. The current definitions are summarized below in order of the first use of the name; however, all are based on some earlier works. In some cases, the technique had been in practice for some time before the introduction of the term.
