title: Factors affecting cardiolipin antibody assays: modification with polyethylene glycol compound.
abstract: Anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL) measurement is only semi-reproducible, and current assays detect irrelevant as well as clinically significant antibodies. Factors found to influence results included the source of the enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) plate, and its pretreatment with solvents; the nature of the blocking solution; and the composition of the diluent used for reagents. Fetal calf serum (FCS) in the diluent appeared to reduce nonspecific (clinically irrelevant) binding and was not simply a source of beta2-glycoprotein-1 (beta2GP1). A polyethylene glycol compound was found to be an effective blocking agent, and its use enhanced the discrimination between positive and negative samples. A high level of variation may be inherent in aCL-ELISA methodology, but the use of polyethylene glycol compound appeared to be a helpful modification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, The Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
mesh_terms: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols