Fluorescent-Antibody Technic for Serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection.

Abstract

A fluorescent-antibody technic for serodiagnosis of American trypanosomiasis is presented. While nonspecific staining regularly occurs in tests using dried smears of trypanosomes, specificity is excellent when reactions are conducted in test tubes and drying of organisms is prevented. Serologic findings indicate the fluorescent-antibody procedure, used either independently or in conjunction with the complement fixation reaction, can play an important role in serodiagnosis of T. cruzi infection. An improved method for purifying antibody prior to conjugation with fluorescein also is given. Advantages of purification by isoelectric precipitation with dilute HCl over ammonium sulfate as a precipitant are noted.