Abstract
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using polystyrene beads as an antigen carrier and β-D-galactosidase as the enzyme marker, has been developed for detecting specific IgE antibodies in the peripheral blood of atopic patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis and bronchial asthma.
1) This method was able to differentiate allergic patients from healthy subjects by specific IgE antibody levels.
2) Polystyrene beads used as the carrier can be well coated with each antigen. 100 or more μg of protein/ml of its antigen is needed for the coating.
3) Reproducibility of this method was acceptable because there was little difference in the results from individual beads.
4) Specific IgE antibody levels measured by this method correlated well with those measured by RAST and other ELISA using paper discs.
These results suggest that ELISA using polystyrene beads is of value, in place of RAST, in the diagnosis of allergic diseases.
