Abstract |
During the 2001 U. S. West Nile virus (WNV) season, 163 specimens were reactive in an in-house WNV-specific immunoglobulin M ( IgM) screening enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and were referred to either the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the appropriate state public health laboratory (CDC/SPHL) for additional testing. CDC/SPHL supplied results for 124 specimens that could be further evaluated in-house: 70 specimens were nonreactive in the CDC/SPHL WNV-specific IgM screening assay, and 54 specimens were reactive. These specimens were used to evaluate a modified in-house WNV-specific IgM ELISA that incorporated background subtraction to identify nonspecific reactivity and thus improve assay specificity. Of the 70 CDC/SPHL nonreactive samples, 49 (70%) were nonreactive in the modified ELISA; of the 54 CDC/SPHL reactive samples, 51 (94%) were reactive in the modified ELISA. Confirmatory studies performed by CDC/SPHL indicated that 38 CDC/SPHL screen-reactive specimens represented true WNV infection; all 38 specimens were reactive in the modified in-house WNV-specific IgM ELISA. These findings demonstrate that an in-house ELISA system for WNV-specific IgM effectively identifies patients with WNV infection.
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Authors | Harry E Prince, Wayne R Hogrefe |
Journal | Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology
(Clin Diagn Lab Immunol)
Vol. 10
Issue 1
Pg. 177-9
(Jan 2003)
ISSN: 1071-412X [Print] United States |
PMID | 12522058
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
(methods, standards)
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin M
(blood)
- Mass Screening
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- United States
- West Nile Fever
(diagnosis)
- West Nile virus
(immunology)
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