Polystyrene, poly-L-lysine and nylon as adsorptive surfaces for the binding of whole cells of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 RV to ELISA plates.

Several methods of coating whole cells of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 RV to ELISA microtitre plates were compared with the aim of developing an ELISA screening assay for murine monoclonal antibodies in culture supernatants and human antibodies in patient sera. Undercoats of nylon or poly-L-lysine were compared to polystyrene as adsorptive surfaces for the bacteria, the effect of increased ionic strength and iclusion of SDS in the coating buffer measured, and methanol (70%) and glutaraldehyde (5%) investigated for their efficiency as fixatives of the bacterial monolayers. The results suggest PBS as a satisfactory coating buffer for the bacterial cells on polystyrene, and 70% methanol the preferred fixative for the dried antigen-coated plates.