Evaluation of a commercial anti-delta EIA kit for detection of antibodies to hepatitis delta virus.
Anti-hepatitis delta virus (anti-HDV) antibodies were measured by solid phase IgG and IgM capture radioimmunoassays (RIA) as well as by a competitive binding enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in both acute and chronic HDV infections. EIA anti-delta test measures total delta antibody without discriminating IgM from IgG anti-delta. Low titer IgG antibodies were detected by both techniques with equal sensitivity. High titer IgG antibodies reached the end point sooner with EIA than with RIA (10(-3) versus greater than 10(-6)). When IgM anti-HDV was present without accompanying IgG anti-HDV, EIA failed to identify the antibody. Presence of high titer rheumatoid factor in the serum and lipemic samples produced false-positive results by EIA. Usage of undiluted serum samples for EIA probably exaggerates the factors contributing to false-positive reaction.
Govindarajan
S
S
University of Southern California Liver Unit, Department of Pathology, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, Downey 90242.
Valinluck
B
B
Lake-Bakkar
G
G
D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic