Escherichia coli O157 serology: false-positive ELISA results caused by human antibodies binding to bovine serum albumin

H Chart; J Evans; R M Chalmers; R L Salmon

doi:10.1046/j.1472-765x.1998.00396.x

Escherichia coli O157 serology: false-positive ELISA results caused by human antibodies binding to bovine serum albumin

Lett Appl Microbiol. 1998 Aug;27(2):76-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.1998.00396.x.

Authors

H Chart¹, J Evans, R M Chalmers, R L Salmon

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK. hchart@phls.co.uk

PMID: 9750326
DOI: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.1998.00396.x

Abstract

An analysis of farm workers and rural dwellers for serum antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli O157 detected sera with antibodies binding to bovine serum albumin (BSA) by ELISA. These antibodies were not specific for BSA when examined by immunoblotting, and the ELISA values were reduced to a background level when plates were blocked with normal rabbit serum.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
Cattle
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods*
Escherichia coli Infections / diagnosis*
Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
Escherichia coli O157 / immunology*
False Positive Reactions
Humans
Immunoblotting
Lipopolysaccharides / immunology*
Rabbits
Serum Albumin, Bovine / immunology*

Substances

Antibodies, Bacterial
Lipopolysaccharides
Serum Albumin, Bovine