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Assay of rubella antibody by passive hemagglutination and by a modified indirect immunofluorescence test

Bestimmung der Rötelnantikörper mit dem passiven Hämagglutinationstest und mit einem modifizierten indirekten Immunofluoreszenztest

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Summary

The passive hemagglutination (PHA) test and a modified indirect immunofluorescence (IF) test were compared with the standard hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test for the assay of rubella antibody. For sera from healthy individuals with or without detectable rubella antibody the agreement between the new and the standard procedure was 96.4% for the PHA and 98.1% for the IF test. In rubella patients with serologic confirmation by HI, the IF test detected significant rises in 219 (99.1%) of 221 patients and the PHA test detected antibody conversion in 68 (93%) of 73 patients. In some circumstances the PHA or the IF test may facilitate a presumptive or definitive diagnosis. Absence of PHA reactions in single sera from patients with HI antibody was often (41% of such cases) an early indication of current rubella infection. IF antibody increased more gradually than HI antibody in rubella patients, and diagnostic IF titer rises were observed in several cases when HI titers had reached a plateau.

Zusammenfassung

Der passive Hämagglutinations-(PHA-)Test und ein modifizierter indirekter Immunofluoreszenz-(IF-)Test wurden mit dem Standardhämagglutinations-Hemm-(HI-)Test zur Bestimmung der Rötelnantikörper verglichen. In Seren von gesunden Personen mit oder ohne nachweisbare Rötelnantikörper lag die Übereinstimmung zwischen dem neuen und dem herkömmlichen Verfahren bei 96,4% für den PHA- und bei 98,1% für den IF-Test. Bei Röteln-Kranken, bei denen eine serologische Bestätigung im HI-Test vorlag, wurden im IF-Test signifikante Titeranstiege bei 219 (99,1%) von 221 Patienten und im PHA-Test eine Antikörperkonversion bei 68 (93%) von 73 Patienten nachgewiesen. In manchen Situationen dürfte der PHA- oder der IF-Test eine Vermutungsdiagnose oder eine endgültige Diagnose erleichtern. Das Fehlen einer PHA-Reaktion bei einzelnen Seren von Patienten mit HI-Antikörpern war oft (in 40% solcher Fälle) ein frühes Zeichen für eine im Gange befindliche Rötelninfektion. IF-Antikörper stiegen bei Röteln-Kranken langsamer an als HI-Antikörper und diagnostische IF-Titeranstiege wurden bei mehreren Fällen beobachtet, bei denen die HI-Titer ein Plateau erreicht hatten.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, 12201, Albany, New York, USA

    R. Deibel, D. D'Arcangelis B.A., M.A., C. P. Ducharme B.S., M.A. & G. D. Schryver B.S.

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  1. R. Deibel
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  2. D. D'Arcangelis B.A., M.A.
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  3. C. P. Ducharme B.S., M.A.
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  4. G. D. Schryver B.S.
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Deibel, R., D'Arcangelis, D., Ducharme, C.P. et al. Assay of rubella antibody by passive hemagglutination and by a modified indirect immunofluorescence test. Infection 8 (Suppl 3), S255–S260 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01639591

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