Abstract
A sensitive assay for antibodies, antigens and haptens was developed with the use of a virus as an indicator of the formation of the antigen/antibody complex. For our model studies, dinitrophenyl-ΦX174 phage (DNP-ΦX174) was used as the hapten coupled bacteriophage. Direct neutralization of DNP-ΦX174 by anti-DNP antibody can be detected at antibody levels greater than 200 pg. In contrast, 2 pg (1·5 × 10 −5 pmole) of antibody can be measured by simply removing DNP-ΦX174, which has reacted with anti-DNP, from uncomplexed ΦX174. As described in this communication, this can be accomplished rapidly and conveniently by using antibodies coupled to a solid support. The assay can also be used to detect DNP antigenic determinants. In this way, 0·01 pg of DNP-bovine serum albumin was detectable. The assay is specific and can be completed within several hours. The viroimmunoassay may have general application for the sensitive detection of antibodies or antigenic determinants.
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