Usefulness of ELISA components preserved under different conditions for the detection of Hypoderma bovis antibodies

The aim of the investigations was to determine the stability of ELISA components preserved under different conditions. The following components for ELISA were used: the secretory-excretory (s-e) antigen prepared from H. bovis L1 larvae, its fraction containing hypodermin A, conjugate, positive and negative control sera. Freezing at -20°C, lyophilization and preservation at 4°C were applied. Seven ELISA kits containing components preserved by the use of the described methods were prepared. The identical packets of sera were examined by ELISA directly after preparation of the kits (day „0”) and next at 3-4-week intervals for 9 months. The experiment showed that the best method for conserving ELISA components during the detection of H. bovis antibodies was lyophilization. The kits prepared in this way did not lose their characteristics for 9 months and their specificity and sensitivity were nearly 100%.