Brucella IgM Package Insert
The Calbiotech, Inc (CBI) Brucella IgM ELISA Kit is intended for the detection of IgM antibody to Brucella in human serum or plasma.
Brucella is a gram negative coccobacilli capable of infecting a wide range of animal and man. Of the three species causing human infection, B. melitensis is the most patogenic followed by B. suis and B. abortus . Brucellosis is transmitted through contaminated and untreated milk and milk products and by direct contact with infected animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, buffaloes, and, very recently, seals), animal carcasses, and abortion materials. Worldwide, millions of individual are at risk, especially in developing countries where the infection in animals has not been brought under control, heat treatment procedures of milk (e.g. pasteurization) are not routinely applied, and food habits such as consumption of raw milk. The incubation period of brucellosis is usually one to three weeks, but sometimes may be several months. The illness may be mild and self-limiting or severe. The disease is accompanied by continued, intermittent, or irregular fever, headache, weight loss and generalized aching and fatigue. Urogenital symptoms may dominate the clinical presentation in some patients.
This method uses B. abortus outer membrane, which is shared by the other species. Brucella IgG and IgA antibodies persist for many years after infection. A significant increase in Brucella IgG level is in patients with symptoms of brucellosis is indicative of recent exposure. IgM antibodies are present in acute brucellosis and also found in about 33% of patients with chronic brucellosis.
Diluted patient serum (serum diluent contains sorbent to remove Rheumatoid Factor and human IgG interference) is added to wells coated with purified antigen. IgM specific antibody, if present, binds to the antigen. All unbound materials are washed away and the enzyme conjugate is added to bind to the antibody-antigen complex, if present. Excess enzyme conjugate is washed off and substrate is added. The plate is incubated to allow the hydrolysis of the substrate by the enzyme. The intensity of the color generated is proportional to the amount of IgM specific antibody in the sample.
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