title: Comparison of immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay for detection of measles-specific immunoglobulin M antibody.
abstract: During a measles outbreak, 283 serum specimens from 221 suspected cases of measles were tested by immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay for the presence of measles-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies by using commercially available reagents. There was 97% agreement between the two assays; thus, the choice of the method for diagnostic testing is a matter of convenience and experience. In all 62 cases of measles from which a single blood sample was available, measles IgM-specific antibodies were detectable by both methods. Fifty percent of the 62 cases were positive within 3 days after onset of the rash. This increased to 91% 10 days after onset of the rash.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossier
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McCulloch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M