Measles Virus IgM ELISA Kit

Sample

Serum or plasma (citrate, heparin)

Species Reactivity

Human

Detection Method

iELISA

Intended Use

The Measles Virus IgM ELISA is intended for the qualitative determination of IgM class antibodies against Measles Virus in human serum or plasma (citrate, heparin).

Contents of Kit

It is very important to bring all reagents and samples to room temperature (20-25 °C) and mix them before starting the test run!
1. Microtiterplate
The break-apart snap-off strips are coated with Measles Virus antigens. Immediately after removal of the strips, the remaining strips should be resealed in the aluminium foil along with the desiccant supplied and stored at 2-8 °C.
2. Washing Buffer (20× conc.)
Dilute Washing Buffer 1 + 19; e. g. 10 mL Washing Buffer + 190 mL distilled water. The diluted buffer is stable for 5 days at room temperature (20-25 °C). In case crystals appear in the concentrate, warm up the solution to 37 °C e.g. in a water bath. Mix well before dilution.
3. TMB Substrate Solution
The reagent is ready to use and has to be stored at 2-8 °C, away from the light. The solution should be colourless or could have a slight blue tinge. If the substrate turns into blue, it may have become contaminated and should be thrown away.

Storage

Store the kit at 2-8 °C. The opened reagents are stable up to the expiry date stated on the label when stored at 2-8 °C.

Precision

Sensitivity

The probability of the assay of scoring negative in the absence of the specific analyte is 100% (95% confidence interval: 98.71% - 100%).
The probability of the assay of scoring positive in the presence of the specific analyte is 100% (95% confidence interval: 91.19% - 100%).

General Description

Measles or morbilli virus belongs to the RNA viruses of the family Paramyxoviridae. The virions are spherical particles of 150- 250 nm in diameter consisting of the ribonucleoprotein with helical symmetry and an envelope with spikes containing the strainspecific and hemagglutinating antigens. Morbilli viruses have no neuraminidase activity. Measles is a classic childhood disease. The virus is endemic: at the age of 20 about 90% of the population has had immunological experience with it. Newborns are protected by maternal antibodies for the first 3-4 months of life; the active disease leaves lifelong immunity. The measles virus has a contagiousity index of about 96%, is worldwide distributed, and can be serious. Bacterial superinfection was a serious threat in the preantibiotic era, but the prognosis of uncomplicated measles is now good. CNS complications such as encephalomyelitis (0.1%) which may occur after the acute phase of measles infection subsides, however still have a high mortality (10%). Prognosis of recovery in these patients is poor. Between 10-30% of all cases are fatal; 20-50% develop significant damages. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare (1:1000) degenerative disease of the CNS which is thought to be a slow virus infection.