Rapid solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to viruses and other microbes: effects of polyethylene glycol.

A rapid and sensitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed for determination of serum antibodies, including addition of 4% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) to the diluent buffers. This modification accelerated the antigen-antibody reactions and made it possible to complete the assay within 2 h and to incubate at room temperature only. The enhancing effect of the polymer was particularly prominent in the second solid-phase immune reaction, the interaction between the antigen-bound antibody and the enzyme-labeled anti-immunoglobulin. The PEG-EIA procedure was successfully applied in the assay of antibodies to rubella, influenza A, herpes simplex and cytomegalo viruses, to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Toxoplasma gondii.