Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen

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Abstract
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of S. pneumoniae polysaccharide antigen in CSF and serum. Sensitivity and specificity were determined for purified antigen preparations. Specificity was also evaluated in the rabbit meningitis model; the sensitivity was compared to counterimmunoelectrophoresis using the infected rabbits'' CSF and serum. The ELISA was a specific technique for detecting S. pneumoniae antigen. ELISA was 25 times more sensitive than counterimmunoelectrophoresis for purified antigen and resulted in an increased positively of the CSF and serum from infected rabbits. ELISA should prove very useful in the diagnosis of pneumococcal infections.