COMPARISON OF A WHOLE-VIRUS ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY (EIA) WITH A PEPTIDE-BASED EIA FOR DETECTING RUBELLA-VIRUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN-G ANTIBODIES FOLLOWING RUBELLA VACCINATION

A total of 250 human serum samples were tested for rubella virus immun oglobulin G antibodies by two enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), one using wh ole rubella virus antigen and the other based on the use of synthetic peptide antigen. The samples were taken from 125 volunteers before and after their immunization with the RA 27/3 rubella vaccine. This study indicates that a synthetic peptide-based EIA can favorably replace cu rrent viral lysate-based EIAs to detect rubella virus antibodies follo wing immunization. Because the synthetic peptide used in this newly de veloped EIA represents a putative neutralization epitope of the rubell a virus, it could also be instrumental in determining rubella immune s tatus and in assessing vaccine program efficiency.