title: An immunoperoxidase assay for the detection of specific IgA antibody in Epstein-Barr virus infections.
abstract: A technique using indirect immunoperoxidase antibody was developed for the detection of specific serum IgA antibody to Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen and early antigen. The IgA technique was compared with an immunofluorescence antibody method. Epstein-Barr virus IgA antibody against viral capsid antigen was detected in all nine patients with Epstein-Barr virus associated undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, in 13 (72.2%) of 18 patients with infectious mononucleosis, in 21 (28.3%) of 74 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and in six (20%) of 30 patients who had recently had kidney transplants. Epstein-Barr virus IgA antibody against viral capsid antigen was also detected in four (10%) of 40 healthy subjects, but it was not found in any of 20 cord blood samples. Epstein-Barr virus IgA antibody to early antigen was detected in six (66.6%) patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and in two (2.7%) patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The immunoperoxidase assay for Epstein-Barr virus specific IgA was simple, reliable, and rapid and correlated well (r = 0.94) with the immunofluorescence antibody technique.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; C033305:Epstein-Barr virus early antigen; D007070:Immunoglobulin A