Comparison of six different commercial IgG-ELISA kits for the detection of TBEV-antibodies.
BACKGROUND
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a pathogenic human flavivirus endemic in some parts of Europe and Asia. Commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIA) for the detection of IgG antibodies are often used in TBEV-seroprevalence studies, as well as for the confirmation of a successful vaccination against TBEV. However, the detection of TBEV-specific antibodies can be biased by the cross-reactivity between different flavivirus genera.


OBJECTIVE
To compare different EIA test systems for the detection of TBEV-IgG antibodies.


METHODS
Six commercial EIA kits for the detection of TBEV-specific antibodies are compared, using serum panels (n=139) of subjects with a documented clinical history (109 sera from TBEV infected patients, 30 sera from people vaccinated against TBEV). For the analysis of possible cross-reactivities, 24 sera from yellow fever vaccinated people and 13 sera positive for Dengue virus-specific antibodies were also included.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of the different TBEV test systems ranges from 73 to 99%. However, when testing the yellow fever and Dengue virus positive specimens, problems with the flavivirus cross- reactivity become obvious, resulting in specificities between 14 and 81%.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows the necessity of further improvement of the existing TBEV test systems regarding both sensitivity and specificity.
Niedrig
M
M
Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, D-I 3353 Berlin, Germany.
Vaisviliene
D
D
Teichmann
A
A
Klockmann
U
U
Biel
S S
SS
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003715:Dengue / Q000276:immunology; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000276:immunology*; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015004:Yellow Fever / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic