Staphylococcus aureus antibodies in patients with staphylococcal septicemia. Comparisons between solid-phase radioimmunoassay and crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

Antibody responses against teichoic acids and other antigens from Staphylococcus aureus in 23 patients with septicemia and 8 patients with endocarditis caused by S. aureus were investigated. Both methods used--solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA) and crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE)--detected significantly higher titres in the endocarditis group. The SPRIA method utilized a sonicated extract of S. aureus, strain Wood 46 for the quantitation of antibodies. In CIE precipitating anti-teichoic acid antibodies were measured. There was no absolute correlation between the two assays, indicating that the antibodies measured were directed at partly different antigens. The two tests might be complementary to each other when used in combination.