μ‐Antibody capture elisa for the rapid diagnosis of enterovirus infections in patients with aseptic meningitis

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Abstract
Between August and November 1985, 45 patients with suspected aseptic meningitis were investigated using conventional virus isolation procedures and the m̈-antibody capture Coxsackie B IgM enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) test, which is well known to cross-react with other members of the enterovirus group. An enterovirus was isolated from 22% of patients compared with 67% who were positive in the ELISA test. Not only was the rate of enterovirus detection increased by using this ELISA method, the clinician received a result within 2 days of submission of serum to the laboratory. A positive result was reassuring to the patient and helpful in clinical management. The main disadvantage of this test was its cost since Coxsackie B1-5 virus antigens were essential. Development of a single inexpensive enterovirus-specific antigen is thus desirable.