DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS SLIME USING AN ELISA TECHNIQUE

A polyclonal rabbit anti-serum against the strong slime-producing Stap hylococcus epidermidis strain RP62A was absorbed with the slime-negati ve phase variant of this strain PV1 in order to remove not slime-speci fic antibodies. Using this antiserum we established an ELISA which ena bles detection of slime production in S. epidermidis extracts. The ELI SA showed high absorbance when extracts from slime-positive strains (c onfirmed in the tissue culture tube test) were used as antigens. The h igh absorbance of slime-positive strains was greatly reduced by period ate oxidation of the extracts and was resistant to proteinase digestio n suggesting that the detected antigen is composed of polysaccharides. In contrast to other rapid and simple laboratory detection methods fo r S. epidermidis slime, the slime-specific ELISA gave positive results in the presence of human serum.