COXSACKIEVIRUS B1-BASED ANTIBODY-CAPTURE ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY FOR DETECTION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN-G (IGG), IGM, AND IGA WITH BROAD-SPECIFICITY FOR ENTEROVIRUSES

An antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with cox sackievirus B1 as the antigen was evaluated for detection of immunoglo bulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA antibodies and showed broad specificity fo r enteroviruses. In total, 116 serum or cerebrospinal fluid samples fr om 62 patients were tested by ELISA and the complement fixation test ( CFT). Additionally, 15 serum samples that contained poliovirus-specifi c IgM antibody were tested. Serum samples from 200 healthy blood donor s were used for standardization of the assays. The sensitivity of the ELISA varied with time of serum sampling, with a relatively low sensit ivity when serum was collected within 3 days after the onset of sympto ms (23%; 5 of 22) but good sensitivity when serum was collected later (83%; 20 of 24). The sensitivity was better than that of the CFT. The ELISAs were broadly reactive as concluded from typing of virus isolate s that were simultaneously obtained. The assay did, furthermore, detec t antibody against poliovirus type 3. Sera that contained rheumatoid f actor, antinuclear antibody, or cardiolipin antibody (by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test) did not react in this ELISA. Nonspec ific reactivity did occur, however, in cases of infectious mononucleos is and in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The enterovirus-specific EL ISA is found to be simple to perform, more sensitive than the CFT, and far less laborious than the neutralization test.