AN ANTIBODY MODIFIED AUTOMATED ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY-BASED METHOD FOR DETECTION OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN

Studies were conducted with an automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based method (Vidas, Staph enterotoxin-II [SET-II]), exhibiting an antibody capture that had undergone modification by removal of the F(c) fragment on the antibody. Raw liquid or shell eggs containing a nontoxin component with an attraction to the staphylococcal antienterotoxins were studied. Prior to ELISA testing, the eggs were homogenized and extracts collected by centrifugation. Studies showed that regardless of the ELISA-based method used that utilized the unmodified antibodies with both the F(ab)(1) + F(c) fragments intact, positive (false positive) ELISA responses occurred with fertilized egg yolks and fertilized whole liquid or whole shell eggs. Conversely, when modified (F(ab)(1)) antibodies were used, the automated SET-II enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay was negative.