A complex-trapping-blocking (CTB) ELISA, using monoclonal antibodies and detecting specifically antibodies directed against foot-and-mouth disease types A, O and C. I. Method and characteristics.

A complex-trapping-blocking (CTB) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of antibodies directed against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strains A10 Holland, O1 BFS, and C1 Detmold. For each strain two monoclonal antibodies directed against different antigenic sites of FMDV were used. The assay used either infectious, not inactivated antigen or inactivated antigen. We concluded that the CTB-ELISA was sensitive, type-specific, and more reproducible (P less than 0.05) than the serum neutralisation test (SNT). In addition, the test was easy to perform and results could be recorded within 3 hours. The cross-reactivity of bovine reference sera raised against the three FMDV strains was comparable in the CTB-ELISA and the SNT.