Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a passive haemagglutination test (PHT) for the detection of pseudomonas antibodies in burned patients.

Pseudomonas antibodies were measured in serial plasma samples from patients with burns using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), passive haemagglutination test (PHT) and a passive protection test (PPT). ELISA and PHT showed that from 7 days after burning, 15 patients immunized with a 16-part polyvalent vaccine had higher titres of antibody to the 16 antigens in the vaccine than 15 unvaccinated patients. There was evidence that ELISA and PHT detected different pseudomonas antibodies in the plasma samples. When a single antigen (type 6) from the polyvalent vaccine was used in ELISA it failed to monitor antibodies in the plasma from vaccinated and unvaccinated burned patients shown by a PPT to protect mice against Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype 6. PHT gave a closer correlation of protective antibodies against type 6 antigen than ELISA.