title: Comparison of sorbent preparations used in the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test.
abstract: The physico-chemical and immunological properties of six different sorbent preparations used in the FTA-ABS test were studied. Three of the sorbent preparations contained one heat-stable Reiter treponemal antigen when analysed in immunoelectrophoresis against polyspecific rabbit anti-Reiter Ig and human syphilitic serum. Marked differences were also observed in the osmolarity (1,340-2,434 milliosmol) and protein concentration (6.5-43 mg/ml) of the sorbent products. However, there was no difference in the performance of the six preparations in the FTA-ABS test, suggesting that the effect of sorbent is based on an unspecific inhibition of the reaction between anti-treponemal antibodies and Treponema pallidum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Treponematoses, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011233:Precipitin Tests / Q000379:methods; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents