Comparison of immunofluorescence with enzyme immunoassay for detection of Q fever

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1996 Sep;15(9):749-52. doi: 10.1007/BF01691965.

Abstract

To evaluate enzyme immunoassay (EIA) as an alternative to indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to screen for Q fever in humans, 157 serum samples from patients suspected of having the disease were tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies to Coxiella burnetii. The agreement between the tests and the sensitivity of EIA were excellent (96.8% and 98.4%, respectively) when an IFA titer of > 1/160 was considered positive. All serum samples with a titer of > 1/320 in the IFA were also positive by the EIA. The EIA seems to be an acceptable alternative to IFA for screening for Q fever.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Coxiella burnetii / immunology*
  • Coxiella burnetii / isolation & purification
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques*
  • Q Fever / blood
  • Q Fever / diagnosis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial