title: Rapid detection of anticardiolipin antibodies.
abstract: A rapid screening method for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies is described. Dense, red dyed polystyrene beads coated with cardiolipin were incubated with test sera for a short period of time, then added to a microtube containing anti-human IgG in a gel provided within a pre-cast card (DiaMed ID Microtyping System). The card was centrifuged at 150g for 5 min and then examined for movement of the beads through the gel. Beads without bound antibody travelled through the gel and formed a pellet on the bottom of the tube. Anti-human IgG within the gel matrix impeded cardiolipin-coated beads when antiphospholipid antibodies bound to the beads. Positivity was indicated by the formation of a layer of beads on the top of the gel matrix. Prospective analysis of 103 samples for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies by flow cytometry and the gel-card technique showed good correlation between the two methods. All samples found to be positive by flow cytometry (23 of 103) were identified as positive by the gel-card technique. Two samples were identified as positive by the gel-card method but negative by flow cytometry. The technique is simple to perform and should prove useful as a rapid screening method for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Canada. mstewart@mercury.uah.ualberta.ca
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schwind
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000032:analysis*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D011137:Polystyrenes
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D005782:Gels; D011137:Polystyrenes