@article{mbs:/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-11-4-411, author = "Pattison, J. R. and Jackson, Carolyn M. and Hiscock, Jennifer A. and Cradock-Watson, J. E. and Ridehalgh, Margaret K. S.", title = "Comparison of Methods For Detecting Specific Igm Antibody in Infants With Congenital Rubella", journal= "Journal of Medical Microbiology", year = "1978", volume = "11", number = "4", pages = "411-418", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/00222615-11-4-411", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-11-4-411", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1473-5644", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "SUMMARY Serum specimens from 14 infants with congenital rubella were examined for specific IgM antibody by six different methods. IgM-containing fractions were separated either by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation or by gel filtration through Sephadex G-200, and were then tested by the indirect immunofluor-escence technique and by the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test (long- and short-incubation methods). Immunofluorescence staining of density-gradient fractions detected specific IgM in all 14 infants. The HI test (long method), applied to density-gradient fractions, was almost as sensitive, detecting antibody in 13 infants; the short method was less sensitive. The gel-filtration technique proved to be generally less satisfactory than sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. Evidence was obtained for the occurrence of as yet unclassified non-specific inhibitors in the serum of some infants. These inhibitors were deposited with the IgM on sucrose-density gradients and they could have been mistaken for rubella-specific IgM antibody, particularly in the HI test (long method).", }