Improved specificity of testing methods for filovirus antibodies.
An epizootic among monkeys imported into the United States created an immediate need for detection of antibodies to filoviruses. Thousands of samples were submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing. Problems of sensitivity and specificity existed in the methods available for these assays. The experiments described in this report resulted in improved methods for the detection of antibodies to filoviruses, both for indirect fluorescent antibody assays (IFA) by standardizing methods and the Western blot (WB) by minimizing antigen load and by incorporating skim milk in diluents.
Elliott
L H
LH
Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Bauer
S P
SP
Perez-Oronoz
G
G
Lloyd
E S
ES
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods*; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016563:Filoviridae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000662:veterinary; D008892:Milk; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010679:Philippines; D015531:Radioimmunoprecipitation Assay; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014481:United States; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral