A SIMPLE METHOD FOR EVALUATING CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES USED IN MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL WATER SAMPLES

A Simple method is described for the evaluation and quality control of Cryptosporidium-specific antibodies used in monitoring environmental water samples, Purified oocysts were fluorescently labelled with a tes t antibody at the appropriate concentration, Labelled oocysts were ana lysed using flow cytometry and a region was defined on a bivariate dot plot of fluorescence versus light scatter that enclosed all oocysts, C oncentrates of environmental water samples that did not contain oocyst s were then incubated with the test antibody and analysed using flow c ytometry, The number of particles that appeared in the region defined for oocysts was recorded and was a measure of nonspecific binding, The technique provides a simple, rapid and quantitative tool for both eva luating the binding specificity of test antibodies and optimizing samp le staining conditions.