Glycolipids for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis and leprosy

摘要

A Dot-Blot assay ("spot test") with Bis-N,N,dioctadecylamide (BDA.TDA) as antigen was developed to detect anti-BDA.TDA antibodies in tuberculosis patients. To develop the antigen-antibody reaction, as a first step and in order to enhance the reaction, an anti-human rabbit serum was used followed by incubation with a protein A-colloidal gold conjugate. This assay showed almost equal sensitivity and specificity as the -galactosidase ELISA test which was conducted in parallel. This simple and fast assay could be used in places where ELISA equipment is not easily available.