MEASLES VIRUS IGM ELISA

Enzyme immunoassay for the qualitative determination of IgM class antibodies against Measles Virus in human serum or plasma (citrate, heparin). The qualitative immunoenzymatic determination of specific antibodies is based on the ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique. Microplates are coated with specific antigens to bind corresponding antibodies of the sample. After washing the wells to remove all unbound sample material a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labelled conjugate is added. This conjugate binds to the captured antibodies. In a second washing step unbound conjugate is removed. The immune complex formed by the bound conjugate is visualized by adding Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate which gives a blue reaction product. The intensity of this product is proportional to the amount of specific antibodies in the sample. Sulphuric acid is added to stop the reaction. This produces a yellow endpoint colour. Absorbance at 450/620 nm is read using an ELISA microwell plate reader.

PRODUCT DETAILS – MEASLES VIRUS IGM ELISA

• High sensitivity – 100%.
• High specificity – 100%.
• Short assay time – <3 hours.
• 1 x 96 tests.

BACKGROUND

Measles or morbilli virus belongs to the RNA viruses of the family Paramyxoviridae. The virions are spherical particles of 150-250 nm in diameter consisting of the ribonucleoprotein with helical symmetry and an envelope with spikes containing the strain-specific and hemagglutinating antigens. Morbilli viruses have no neuraminidase activity. Measles is a classic childhood disease. The virus is endemic: at the age of 20 about 90% of the population has had immunological experience with it. Newborns are protected by maternal antibodies for the first 3-4 months of life; the active disease leaves lifelong immunity. The measles virus has a contagiousity index of about 96%, is worldwide distributed, and can be serious. Bacterial superinfection was a serious threat in the pre-antibiotic era, but the prognosis of uncomplicated measles is now good. CNS complications such as encephalomyelitis (0.1%) which may occur after the acute phase of measles infection subsides, however still have a high mortality (10%). Prognosis of recovery in these patients is poor. Between 10-30% of all cases are fatal; 20-50% develop significant damages. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare (1:1000) degenerative disease of the CNS which is thought to be a slow virus infection.

REFERENCES

• Bellini et al. (1994): Virology of measles virus. In The Journal of Infectious Diseases 170 Suppl 1, S15-23.
• Condorelli, Francesca; Ziegler, Thedi (1993): Dot immunobinding assay for simultaneous detection of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies to measles virus, mumps virus, and rubella virus. In Journal of ntu Microbiology 31 (3), pp. 717–719.
• Doerr, Hans Wilhelm; St. Geiger (1988): Optimierung der quantitativen Antikörpermessung mit dem ELISA unter Berücksichtigung der klinischen Plausibilität. In LaboratoriumsMedizin 12 (4), pp. 142–146. DOI: 10.1515/labm.1988.12.4.142.
• Dopatka, H. D.; Giesendorf, B. (1992): Single point quantification of antibody by ELISA without need of a reference curve. In Journal of clinical laboratory analysis 6 (6), pp. 417–422.
• Gerike, E.; Tischer, A. (1993): Erfahrungen mit der Schutzimpfung gegen Masern, Mumps und Roteln in den neuen Bundeslandern. In Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)) 55 (1), pp. 38–39.
• Quadros, Ciro A. De; Hersh, Bradley S.; Andrus, Jon Kim (2006): Measles. In Richard L. Guerrant, David H. Walker, Peter F. Weller (Eds.): Tropical infectious diseases. Principles, pathogens & practice. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 578–585.

THIS ELISA ASSAY IS FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. IT IS NOT FOR USE IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES.