Bacterial antigen detection in body fluids: methods for rapid antigen concentration and reduction of nonspecific reactions.
We sought procedures which would allow a rapid concentration in high yield of bacterial antigens from tissue fluids of patients and which could be applied also to protein-rich fluids like serum. Ethanol precipitation at a subzero temperature with albumin added as an antigen coprecipitant made it possible to achieve a more than 20-fold concentration of antigen in 15 min and a 200-fold concentration in 45 min. Heat-stable antigens could be concentrated from protein-rich fluids (like serum) after the sample had been deproteinized by boiling. Such heating (100 degrees C, 3 min) also liberated bacterial polysaccharides from antibody complexes and elminated the nonspecific interference of serum in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000652:urine; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000276:immunology*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000175:diagnosis; D008722:Methods; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine