Distinguishing β2‐glycoprotein I dependent (systemic lupus erythematosus type) and independent (syphilis type) anticardiolipin antibody with Tween 20

Abstract
We investigated whether or not the use of Tween 20 could help to distinguish beta 2-glycoprotein I (GPI) independent anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) (syphilis-type aCL) from GPI-dependent aCL (SLE-type aCL) in a GPI-dependent/independent aCL ELISA. aCL was positive in all 16 SLE patients and all 15 syphilis patients, who were positive for aCL in the standard ELISA, in the GPI-independent ELISA with Tween 20. GPI-dependent aCL was detected in 12/16 SLE patients by the GPI-dependent ELISA with Tween 20. aCL was not detected in any of the syphilis patients by GPI-dependent ELISAs. On the basis of these results, we recommend that Tween 20 should be used in ELISAs to distinguish GPI-dependent aCL from GPI-independent aCL.