A 2ND-GENERATION ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY FOR DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES TO IFN-ALPHA

We have developed a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) for de tecting antibodies to interferon-alpha 2 (IFN-alpha 2) in serum or pla sma. In this assay, based on the sandwich principle, the capture antig en, IFN-alpha 2, is covalently bound to the wells in 96-well plates, T his novel procedure offers considerable advantages over the antigen bi nding by passive adsorption used in most previous EIA, Specific antibo dies present in clinical specimens bind to the anchored antigen and ar e detected by adding peroxidase-labeled IFN-alpha 2 and a peroxidase s ubstrate mixture, The resultant color is a function of the concentrati on of antibody in the sample, The assay has proved to be convenient, p recise, and reproducible and can detect as little as 1-5 ng/ml of spec ific antibody IgG.