LATEX AGGLUTINATION ASSAY OF HUMAN IMMUNOGLOBULIN-M ANTITOXOPLASMA ANTIBODIES WHICH USES ENZYMATICALLY TREATED ANTIGEN-COATED PARTICLES

An assay of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antitoxoplasma antibodies which is rapid (< 30 min), homogeneous, and reliable (interassay coefficient of variation, < 11%) is proposed. Its principle is based on the observation that a suspension of latex particles coated with toxoplasma antigens, after treatment with proteinase K, becomes less agglutinable by IgG antibodies but more agglutinable by IgM antibodies. The difference between the activities of the two classes of antibodies is increased by the addition of an monoclonal antibody directed against the Fc region of IgM. Agglutination is measured with a special instrument which optically counts the particles that remain free after the reaction. Turbidimetric reading, although less sensitive, is also suitable. No significant interferences either by IgG antitoxoplasma antibodies or by rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibodies were observed. The sensitivity was similar to that of the immunosorbent agglutination assay.