Determination of dilution and quality control of total and anti-measles immunoglobulin G antibody assays

Abstract

Objective: To determine the correct dilution and Quality control commercial ELISA of total and anti-measles antibodies for HIV infected pregnant women.

Design: A laboratory based study

Setting: The University of Nairobi, Department of Paediatrics laboratory.

Subjects: HIV infected pregnant women enrolled and exposed to different ARVs depending on their degree of immunosuppression for prevention of mother-child transmission of HIV-1.

Results: The dilution used in this study, was 1:400000. Tight error bars of +/-0.1 were produced hence testing was done in singles not in duplicates as recommended. Validation steps did not pass for measles ELISA.

Conclusion: Despite the recommendations of the manufacture each laboratory should always optimize an assay before performing tests and reporting the result. Every laboratory should determine the best dilution to use for quantitative TIgG assays and should perform internal and external quality control before reporting the results. These results will give insight on good laboratory practice during trouble shooting while assays are failing.