B. Martensduring et Hd. Dopatka, MULTICENTER EVALUATION OF A NOVEL QUANTIFICATION METHOD FOR RUBELLA AND TOXOPLASMOSIS ANTIBODIES, Infection, 22(4), 1994, pp. 293-298
Antibody quantification by EIA is possible without a standard curve. F
ollowing the so-called alpha method only one test dilution is used, th
e resulting absorbance is corrected and the IU/ml will be calculated b
y means of a mathematical formula. This new kind of a single point mea
surement was evaluated in seven independent laboratories by comparison
with commercial EIAs using a standard curve or a titer calibration li
ne. For the quantification of IgG against rubella virus this study com
prised 1,480 individual samples and three comparison EIAs. For IgG aga
inst Toxoplasma gondii a total of 743 samples was evaluated in two com
parison tests. The results obtained by the alpha method show a precisi
on and accuracy more than sufficient for routine testings. Also the te
chnical expenses and reagent costs were reduced. Prerequisites and lim
itations are discussed against the background of the problem of immune
status definition.