Use of radioimmunoassays to determine the concentration of streptococcal group-specific antibodies in rabbit antisera.

A radioimmunoassay was developed for the quantitation of antibodies to the Group A, A-variant, and C carbohydrates in rabbit streptococcal antisera. The assay employs radiolabeled purified Group carbohydrate which has been tyrosylated to allow for incorporation of 125-I. This assay has an advantage over the intitative precipitin test because it measures non-precipitating antibody in addition to precipitating antibody. Furthermore, 7S anti-IgG in rabbit antisera give a falsely elevated value for the antibody concentration in the quantitative precipitin test. This did not occur with the radioimmunoassay. The assay described is reproducible, sensitive, and uses little antisera.