In serology, lack of specificity can generally be attributed to cross-reactions between different pathogens with antigens bearing similar epitopes. During seroepidemiologic surveys of contagious agalactia of sheep caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae infection, numerous sera were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A few sera reacted with various antigens coated on plates, including the well with no antigen. This reactivity was not due to cross-reactions as initially suspected, and these multipositive sera were designated false-positive sera. Elimination of this false positivity was not possible by using covalent ELISA plates or different rabbit anti-sheep IgG conjugates. Only conjugates using monoclonal antibodies or protein G were efficient in elimination of false positivities without reducing the true specific positive titers. No false-positive sera have been observed since the implementation of protein G conjugates in the serologic diagnosis of contagious agalactia by ELISA for the past 2 years.
CITATION STYLE
Lambert, M., Calamel, M., Dufour, P., Cabasse, E., Vitu, C., & Pépin, M. (1998). Detection of false-positive sera in contagious agalactia with a multiantigen ELISA and their elimination with a protein G conjugate. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 10(4), 326–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/104063879801000403
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