Enhanced Detection with an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay of Candida Mannan in Antibody-Containing Serum after Heat Extraction

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A double-antibody, solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for detection of candida antigen(s) in serum and body fluids. The assay detected mannan purified from Candida albicans cells with a sensitivity of 1 ng/ml in buffer, but it was I,OOO-fold less sensitive in pooled human serum. Because antibody appeared to be the major blocking factor in serum, a rapid and efficient heat-extraction method for recovering mannan from antibody-containing serum was devised. The assay detected anti-genemia within 24 hr in all of 30 lethally infected rats, and antigenemia persisted until their deaths. Eight of 15 patients with documented or suspected candidiasis had anti-genemia at levels ranging from 5 to >1,000 ng/ml.