Detection of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus by a silver-enhanced gold-labelled immunosorbent assay.

We describe a new immunoassay for the detection of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus. The method is based on a silver enhanced gold-labelled immunosorbent assay (SEGLISA). Test sera are incubated in microtitre wells on which antigens have been coated. If present in the test sera, antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus bind to the solid-phase antigens. Bound antibodies are quantitated with anti-human immunoglobulin labelled with gold. Positive specimens produce a faint pink deposit which is better visualised by silver enhancement which gives an intense black colour. The intensity of the colour is proportional to the bound antibody concentration. All the reagents are stable and the silver enhancement takes place under ambient light conditions. The assay has many of the advantages of micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays but does not suffer from the drawbacks associated with the use of an enzyme label. It requires fewer manipulations and is quicker to carry out than an equivalent enzyme-linked test. As the silver layer is permanent dried wells may be stored for future reading or checking.