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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2005, p. 1570-1574, Vol. 43, No. 4
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JCM.43.4.1570-1574.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
European Multicenter Study of the LIAISON Automated Diagnostic System for Determination of Toxoplasma gondii-Specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM and the IgG Avidity Index
Eskild Petersen,1,2*
Maria Victoria Borobio,3
Edward Guy,4
Oliver Liesenfeld,5
Valeria Meroni,6
Anne Naessens,7
Emma Spranzi,8 and
Philippe Thulliez9
WHO/FAO International Centre for Research and Reference on Toxoplasmosis, Staten Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark,1
Laboratory Centre F82, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden,2
Department of Microbiology, University of Sevilla, Seville, Spain,3
Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom,4
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology of Infection, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany,5
Infectious Diseases Department, University of Pavia-IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia,6
DiaSorin S.p.A., Saluggia, Italy,8
Department of Microbiology, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium,7
Laboratoire de la Toxoplasmose, Institut de Puericulture, Paris, France9
Received 5 June 2004/
Returned for modification 16 August 2004/
Accepted 24 November 2004
The LIAISON system is a fully automated system based on chemiluminescence and antigen bound to magnetic microparticles. The system allows fast and precise measurement of Toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibody levels and measurement of the IgG avidity index even at low levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies in a single step without manual interference. Seven European centers participated in a multicenter evaluation of the LIAISON system. The sensitivity and specificity of the LIAISON system compared to the Sabin-Feldman dye test were 99.3 and 96.8%, respectively. In a comparison of the LIAISON Toxoplasma-specific IgM assay with an immunosorbent agglutination assay, the LIAISON assay had a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 95.4%. The LIAISON IgG assay showed agreements of 91, 100, and 100% with the AXSYM IgG (Abbott), VIDAS IgG (bioMérieux), and Platelia IgG (Bio-Rad) assays, respectively. The LIAISON IgM assay showed agreements of 95% with the AXSYM IgM and Platelia IgM assays, 96% with the ISAGA IgM assay (bioMérieux), and 97% with the VIDAS IgM assay. The coefficient of correlation between the LIAISON system and the VIDAS Toxoplasma-specific IgG avidity index was 0.81. By use of the Toxoplasma-specific IgG avidity index assay with specific IgM-positive samples, the diagnosis of infection with Toxoplasma gondii in early pregnancy has been improved significantly. The LIAISON avidity assay is a valuable assay for the exclusion of recently acquired infection with T. gondii (less than 4 months) in pregnant women, and it decreases significantly the necessity for follow-up testing.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: WHO/FAO International Centre for Research and Reference on Toxoplasmosis, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark. Phone: 45 8949 8307. Fax: 45 89498310. E-mail:
eskildp{at}dadlnet.dk.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2005, p. 1570-1574, Vol. 43, No. 4
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JCM.43.4.1570-1574.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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