The use of a logistic model for the quantitative interpretation of indirect sandwich enzyme labelled immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for antibodies and antigens in foot and mouth disease.

A three parameter logistic model is described for the analysis of profiles of optical density vs log dose for indirect sandwich ELISA tests in foot and mouth disease. The model describes the observed phenomenon of saturability with increasing dose, and its parameters can be interpreted in terms of molecular binding events. A computer program to fit the model is described. An approximate statistical test is developed which can be used to test for departures from equivalence for replicate profiles. It is found that correlation of the optical density values to a standard reference reaction considerably improves reproducibility.