Detection of phase I IgG antibodies to Coxiella burnetii with EIA as a screening test for blood donations.
The presence of a high phase I IgG antibody titre may indicate chronic infection and a risk for the transmission of Coxiella burnetii through blood transfusion. The outbreak of Q fever in the Netherlands allowed for the comparison of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with the reference immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in a large group of individuals one year after acute Q fever. EIA is 100 % sensitive in detecting high (≥1:1,024) phase I IgG antibody titres. The cost of screening with EIA and confirming all EIA-positive results with IFA is much lower than screening all donations with IFA. This should be taken into account in cost-effectiveness analyses of screening programmes.
Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, A. van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. wim.van.der.hoek@rivm.nl
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van der Hoek
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Wielders
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Schimmer
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Wegdam-Blans
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Meekelenkamp
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Zaaijer
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Schneeberger
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G