This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pitzurra, L. Articles by Marconi, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pitzurra, L. Articles by Marconi, P.

Comparison of Passive Hemagglutination with Turkey Erythrocyte Assay, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and Counterimmunoelectrophoresis Assay for Serological Evaluation of Tetanus Immunity

¹ Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy

ABSTRACT

Antibody titers to tetanus toxin in human sera were assayed by passive hemagglutination with turkey erythrocytes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and counterimmunoelectrophoresis. The first two of these tests were shown to be the most sensitive for antibody detection, having the same range of sensitivity and reproducibility. The antibody levels determined by these assays were up to 400-fold higher than those determined by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. The turkey erythrocyte hemagglutination assay requires only 40 min, whereas the immunosorbent assay method requires 24 h. These results suggest that the hemagglutination assay is the more appropriate method for rapid and sensitive determination of tetanus antibody levels.