Determination of brucella immunoglobulin G agglutinating antibody titer with dithiothreitol.
The routine brucella agglutination test measures both immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG brucella antibody titers; however, only an elevated IgG titer is significant for differentiating active from inactive disease in patients with symptoms lasting 3 or more weeks. The IgG antibody titer can be determined by treating the serum wih 2-mercaptoethanol to inactivate the IgM brucella antibodies while leaving the IgG brucella antibodies intact. Dithiothreitol, which also inactivates IgM, was compared with 2-mercaptoethanol for the determination of IgG brucella agglutination titers. The dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol test results agreed within +/- 1 dilution step in 103 of 105 serum specimens tested, for a 98.1% rate of agreement. The results indicate that dithiothreitol can be used in place of 2-mercaptoethanol for determining IgG brucella agglutination titers. Dithiothreitol does not have the offensive odor or the irritant properties of 2-mercaptoethanol.
D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002002:Brucella / Q000276:immunology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008623:Mercaptoethanol
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D004229:Dithiothreitol