Application of ELISA microplate reader in complement fixation test used for dourine diagnosis. A preliminary study

The aim of the present work was to estimate the possibility of improving the objectiveness of complement fixation test (CFT) in the diagnosis of dourine by using an ELISA microplate reader. The investigations were carried out on control positive and negative sera and 16 sera obtained for a reference examination. Six modifications of CFT performing and reading methods were compared (tube, microplate method, and microplate method with double volume of reagents in combination with visual and spectrophotometrical readings). The linear regression functions were calculated for the estimation of the percentage of haemolysis in CFT reaction on the basis of supernatant absorbance for the methods in which spectrophotometer or ELISA reader were used. High level of correlation of the results obtained by different methods was achieved. All coefficients of the correlation were higher than 0.9 and were statistically significant in each case. The investigations showed that it is possible to use the ELISA microplate reader for dourine diagnostics by CFT.