Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Detection and Quantitation of Chlamydia Antibodies

Abstract

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect and quantitate chlamydia antibodies. A widely reactive LGV II strain was used to prepare the antigen. Purification of the organism through a dense Renografin solution enhanced the sensitivity and reduced background in the assay. Further improvement of the antigen was accomplished by treating the purified chlamydia with sodium dodecyl sulfate. This assay was shown to be more sensitive than Complement Fixation (CF) and equivalent to Immunofluorescence (IFA) and Microimmunofluorescence (MIF). The assay was found to be linear with respect to ELISA titer and MIF titer, thus enabling a single dilution to quantitate antibody. Values were reliable with a mean coefficient of variation of 4.46%. By utilizing a ratio of the convalescent value divided by the acute value, the ELISA was shown to be at least as sensitive as standard serological methods in determining a significant rise in antibody during chlamydia infections.