ANTIGLOMERULAR BASEMENT-MEMBRANE DISEASE - ROLE OF ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAYS IN DIAGNOSIS

We compared two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests with i ndirect immunofluorescence (IFA) for the measurement of anti-glomerula r basement membrane (GBM) antibodies to study their sensitivity and sp ecificity. The first ELISA test kit compared well to IFA (96.4% agreem ent, 93.3% sensitivity, 97.0% specificity). The second ELISA kit was m uch less sensitive (87.8% agreement, 63.3% sensitivity, 92.2% specific ity). ELISA tests for the measurement of anti-GBM antibodies allow for quantitation and may have greater sensitivity than IFA. Sensitivity, however, may depend on the commercial test used. (C) 1996 Academic Pre ss, Inc.