The detection of subclinical leprosy using a monoclonal antibody based radioimmunoassay

Abstract

The monoclonal antibody based competition radioimmunoassay test was used to examine sera from 100 healthy household contacts of known leprosy patients. Only 6 out of 100 contacts had detectable specific antibodies. It remains conjectural that this small fraction of contact subjects may be at much higher risk of developing disease than those without antibodies. Contacts who are antibody positive and lepromin negative (as were 4 of the 6), would best qualify for being offered chemoprophylaxis.