Antibody levels against B. pertussis in neonates measured in dried blood spots

Vaccine. 2012 Mar 30;30(16):2697-700. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.087. Epub 2012 Jan 3.

Abstract

Aim: We designed this study to investigate if immunoglobuline G-Pertussis toxin (IgG-PT) against Bordetella pertussis in umbilical cord blood can reliably be determined in dried blood spots on filter paper (Guthrie) cards.

Patients and methods: We prospectively included 129 mothers and their newborns born in a general hospital in the Netherlands. The relation between IgG-PT against B. pertussis from the umbilical cord measured in dried blood spots (Guthrie card) and in serum samples was studied by means of a Bland-Altman graph, using regression analysis to evaluate the level of agreement of both measurement methods.

Results: IgG-PT in Guthrie cards show a high coefficient of correlation with IgG-PT in serum samples from the umbilical cord when calibrated against blood spot calibrators (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Maternal IgG-PT against B. pertussis measured in cord blood applied to Guthrie cards and calibrated against blood spot calibrators show good agreement with measurement of IgG-PT in cord serum. This offers new perspectives for future studies concerning B. pertussis antibodies.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bordetella pertussis / immunology*
  • Calibration
  • Dried Blood Spot Testing
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Fetal Blood / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Netherlands
  • Pertussis Toxin / blood*
  • Pertussis Toxin / immunology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Whooping Cough / diagnosis*
  • Whooping Cough / immunology
  • Whooping Cough / microbiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Pertussis Toxin