ELISA for toxoplasma antibody detection: a comparison with other serodiagnostic tests

J Clin Pathol. 1980 Jul;33(7):640-3. doi: 10.1136/jcp.33.7.640.

Abstract

An ELISA method was developed for the measurement of toxoplasma IgG antibodies in human serum using antigen-coated polystyrene beads as a solid phase and anti human IgG-horse radish peroxidase conjugate as an enzymatic tracer. In order to assess ELISA sensitivity and specificity, a between methods comparison was made using 'conventional' serological tests as reference (dye-test, crossover-linked immunoassay, passive haemagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence). From an analysis of the group classifications obtained some considerations emerged: the ELISA specificity looks comparable with that of the 'reference' tests, as no sample classified as negative by all these tests was ELISA-positive, and vice versa; ELISA appears to correlate better with haemagglutination and immunofluorescence, on the basis of the respective class frequencies; in particular, the number of positives, which is much lower for the dye-test and crossover-linked immunoassay, suggests that a higher sensitivity is reached in the former cases.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / analysis*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Serologic Tests / methods
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin G