• 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. C129  (4) , 463-+
Abstract
Three techniques for the detection of antibodies against double-stranded DNA were compared: 2 immunofluorescent (IF) techniques using Trypanosoma gambiense or Crithidia luciliae as antigen and a radioimmunoassay (RIA) based on the Farr technique. IF on T. gambiense or C. luciliae gives very similar results but the reaction on C. luciliae is easier to read and interpret. The use of C. luciliae eliminates the 2 main causes of errors: antibodies against the nucleus of Trypanosomidae and antibodies reacting with the base of the flagella. RIA is a very sensitive test; 6 sera gave a positive reaction with RIA and a negative reaction with IF on C. luciliae. RIA gave, in 9 cases, false positive reactions and in 4 cases it gave false negative results. Those last 4 sera contained specific antibodies with low avidity for double-strand DNA.