Evaluation of an immunochromatographic test for rapid and reliable serodiagnosis of human tularemia and detection of Francisella tularensis-specific antibodies in sera from different mammalian species.

Tularemia is a highly contagious infectious zoonosis caused by the bacterial agent Francisella tularensis. Serology is still considered to be a cornerstone in tularemia diagnosis due to the low sensitivity of bacterial culture and the lack of standardization in PCR methodology for the direct identification of the pathogen. We developed a novel immunochromatographic test (ICT) to efficiently detect F.

Comparison of an electrochemiluminescence assay in plate format over a colorimetric ELISA, for the detection of ricin B chain (RCA-B).

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay for the detection of the B chain of ricin (RCA-B) in a 96-well plate format was developed in parallel with a colorimetric ELISA utilizing the same pair of antibodies. Sensitivity results were interpreted with the ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests, allowing a direct comparison between the two technologies, that can probably be extended to other protein antigens such as toxins. Reproducibility, repeatability and rapidity of the two techniques were also compared.

Development and comparison of two immunoassay formats for rapid detection of botulinum neurotoxin type A.

We have evaluated two formats of immunoassays for the rapid detection of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A), in assay buffer and various matrices (human serum and nasal swabs, fresh milk, sugar, flour and talcum). The two formats, a vertical-flow strip immunochromatography (ICT) and a small disposable immunoaffinity column (IAC), were selected because they are both rapid and readily usable in the field without sophisticated equipment. We utilised the same critical reagents to develop and optimise both assays, making it possible to compare the corresponding technologies on the same toxin preparations, without interference due to the properties of the antibodies.

An immunochromatographic test for the diagnosis of ricin inhalational poisoning.

Introduction: Aerosolized ricin is a feared bioweapon for which no diagnostic protocol is currently available.

Methods: We obtained antibodies to develop an immunochromatographic test (ICT) that would be part of such a protocol.

Results: Our ICT, that can be read with the naked eye, has a sensitivity of 1 ng ricin/mL buffer, without enhancement, making it the most sensitive rapid test available for this toxin as far as we know.

Comparison of electrochemiluminescence assay and ELISA for the detection of Clostridium botulinum type B neurotoxin.

We compared the ELISA and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay technologies for the detection of botulinum type B neurotoxin (BotNT B), which requires highly sensitive techniques due to its potent biological activity. BotNT B complexes are the naturally secreted form of the toxin, approximately a third of which consists of the neurotoxin itself; they were aliquoted and frozen for this study. Results of both techniques were interpreted with the same standard statistical tests (ANOVA and Tukey).