The use of an anti‐idiotype monoclonal antibody for reliable detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins

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Abstract
During the past decade several immunoassays for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) have been developed. Of the assays developed the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been proven to be the most appropriate method for detecting small quantities of SE in foods. In the course of time, however, it has become clear that in using the ELISA equivocal results may be obtained. Therefore, control experiments have to be introduced to check for both false negative and false positive results. In this study the use of anti‐idiotypic monoclonal antibody to control false positive ELISA‐reactions is described. Using a monoclonal antibody as coating antibody, it has been shown that the anti‐idiotypic monoclonal antibody and its F(ab')2 fragment prevents binding of SE. Addition of anti‐idiotypic Flab')2 fragments to test samples changed a positive reaction into a negative only if SE is present. Samples with positive reactions without SE remained positive. Therefore F(ab')2 fragments of anti‐idiotypic monoclonal antibodies can be used to recognize false positive reactions.

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