The Use of Particle Counting Immunoassay (PACIA) for the Titration of Specific Antibodies

Abstract
Particle counting immunoassay (PACIA) is shown to be a suitable nonradioisotopic method for the titration of anti-phospholipase A2 antibodies in the sera from honeybee venom-desensitized patients. The sensitivity of the method is equal to the RAST-IgG with a correlation coefficient between the two methods of r = 0.94. Within-day and between-day precisions were 2.5 and 9.2%, respectively. The main advantages of PACIA are: (i) the use of easily prepared non-radioactive reagents having a shelf-life of at least 1 year at ––20°C; (ii) partial automation; (iii) calibration with antisera of animal origin, and (iv) the possibility of allergen standardization of honeybee venom extracts.