Rubella antibodies detected by several commercial immunoassays in hemagglutination inhibition-negative sera

Abstract

Although a very good correlation was found between the level of rubella antibodies measured by a standard hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedure (Cordia R), an appreciable proportion (31%) of ELISA-positive specimens were encountered among HI-negative sera. The reverse was rarely seen. Many of the HI-negative, ELISA-positive sera were also found to be positive for rubella antibodies by one or more other assay methods, including an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) procedure (FIAX), passive hemagglutination (PHA) (Rubacell and PHAST), latex agglutination (Rubascan), and a second ELISA procedure (Rubelisa). The specificity of all of the ELISA-positive HI-negative specimens was substantiated by absorption experiments. In these tests, the ELISA reactivities were blocked by rubella antigens, but not by a variety of tissue culture control antigens or by influenza virus grown on the same cell line. The findings indicate that many of the newer methods available for rubella antibody detection are more sensitive than HI for detecting low levels of rubella antibodies. Until more clinical information is available concerning the protective nature of these low levels of antibody, caution should be exercised in assessing the significance of these results.

Antibody levels for cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and rubella in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome

“…In agreement with others (2), it was found that the incidence of individuals with positive levels of CMV anti- a Values from the CORDIA R assay of <2 were considered nonimmune. b From young adult women in Michigan (7).…”

“…The antibody determinations were carried out by standardized enzyme immunoassays developed at Cordis Laboratories: CORDIA CMV for CMV (6), CORDIA HS for HSV, and CORDIA R for rubella (7). The quantitative values for the two former tests were reported as the percent absorbance of the test samples in relation to that found with standardized positive controls.…”

A dot‐elisa intended for the specific and simultaneous detection of antibodies directed to antigens derived from toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and type 1 and type 2 herpesviruses

“…In particular, this is the case for passive hemagglutination, complement fixation, and dye tests applied to the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis (1 1,12). The same holds true for the serological methods used for the diagnosis of viral diseases (13)(14)(15)(16)(17). The IIF test yields results that narrowly depend on the operator; in addition, this technique suffers from a lack of automation.…”

Evaluation of a rapid passive hemagglutination assay for anti‐rubella antibody: Comparison to hemagglutination inhibition and a vaccine challenge study

“…The sensitivity of rubella serological tests has become a controversial issue as the number of methods available to detect anti-rubella antibody has expanded. Some of the newer methods are capable of detecting levels of antibody lower than that generally accepted as positive by standard HAI methods Buimovici-Klein et al, 1980;Kleeman et al, 1983;Storch and Myers, 19841. The controversy lies in the fact that a positive serological result must ultimately be interpreted in terms of resistance to viremia and clinical illness upon subsequent exposure to the rubella virus.…”