title: Comparison of the performance of IFA, CFA, and ELISA assays for the serodiagnosis of acute Q fever by quality assessment.
abstract: The indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is considered the reference method for diagnosing Q fever, but serology is also performed by complement fixation assay (CFA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, comparability between these assays is not clear, and therefore a quality assessment was performed. A total of 25 serum samples from negative controls, Q fever patients, and a serial diluted high-positive sample were analyzed in 10 Dutch laboratories. Six laboratories performed CFA, 5 performed IFA, and 5 performed ELISAs. Three international reference laboratories from Australia, France, and the USA also participated in this study. Qualitative values between laboratories using the same methods were within close range, and all 3 methods correctly identified acute Q fever patients. The IFA, ELISA, and CFA are all suitable serodiagnostic assays to diagnose acute Q fever, but the IFA remains an important tool in the follow-up of patients and in identifying patients at risk for developing chronic Q fever.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands. tineke.herremans@rivm.nl
authors.forename: Tineke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Herremans
authors.forename: Boris M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hogema
authors.forename: Marrigje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nabuurs
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Marjolijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wegdam-Blans
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schneeberger
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nijhuis
authors.forename: Daan W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Notermans
authors.forename: Joep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galama
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horrevorts
authors.forename: Inge H M
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: van Loo
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vlaminckx
authors.forename: Hans L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zaaijer
authors.forename: Marion P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.forename: Hanneke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berkhout
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Socolovschi
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stenos
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bijlmer
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D009426:Netherlands; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States