A modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring type-specific anti-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide antibodies.

We have developed an ELISA for antibody determination, superior to others hitherto described, in which optimal coating is achieved using phenylated pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides as coating antigen. The specificity of the assay is ensured by complete inhibition of antibodies against the species-specific pneumococcal antigen, C-polysaccharide (C-Ps). The method is sensitive, specific, reproducible, fast and easy to work with and can be used for both immunoglobulin class and subclass antibody determinations.