Results from an inter-laboratory comparison of pneumococcal serotype-specific IgG measurement and critical parameters that affect assay performance.
Quantitation of specific IgG to polysaccharides (serotypes) of Streptococcus pneumoniae provides the basis for evaluating vaccine efficacy. Different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods are used internationally, making comparisons between laboratories difficult. We undertook an inter-laboratory comparison between two international laboratories performing serotype-specific IgG ELISAs using a panel of well-characterized serum samples: the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Pneumococcal Laboratory (Melbourne, Australia) and the Vaccine Immunology Laboratory, National Public Health Institute (Helsinki, Finland). While good agreement was found for the inter-laboratory comparison for most serotypes, differences in ELISA methodology influenced specific IgG measurement. Therefore, use of the World Health Organization (WHO)-based ELISA methods for measurement of serotype-specific IgG is reliable, accurate and provides consistent results between international laboratories.
Balloch
A
A
Pneumococcal Laboratory, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. anne.balloch@mcri.edu.au
Licciardi
P V
PV
Leach
A
A
Nurkka
A
A
Tang
M L K
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D014944:World Health Organization
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G