Comparative evaluation of the enzyme immunoassay and the immunofluorescence test for the detection of chlamydial group antibodies in human sera.
The usefulness of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in detecting chlamydial group antibodies in human sera was evaluated by comparing the results with a standard micro-immunofluorescence test (micro-IF). Of the 176 samples tested, 94.9% sera gave concordant results, 23.9% being positive and 71% negative by both the tests. ELISA detected specific antibodies in 33.3% and 13.5% sera from poultry associated and unassociated individuals respectively while corresponding figures by IF test were 36.3% and 16.2% (p less than 0.01). The IF and ELISA titres of five immune serum samples from monkeys when compared with conventional complement fixation (CF) test were found to be consistently higher. Though the two tests were found to be parallel in sensitivity and specificity (r = 0.94), IF had a marginal superiority over ELISA, while the latter could be performed more easily and read objectively.
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000276:immunology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D011200:Poultry
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial