A comparison of enzyme immunoassay and bioassay for the quantitative determination of antibodies to tetanus toxin.

Antibodies to tetanus toxin were induced in sheep by hyperimmunization over 24 weeks. Bleeds taken at weeks 4, 8, 20 and 30 were assayed for antibody titre by both an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using a newly-described urease enzyme/substrate system and by bioassay in mice. There was a very good correlation between the two assay systems and, with the exception of the week 4 Bleeds, the relationship was the same at all stages of hyperimmunization regardless of titre, adjuvant, or whether toxin or toxoid was used as immunogen or for coating the plates. The results establish that the EIA can replace the bioassay for the determination of tetanus antitoxin in ovine sera.