Meningitis IgG
Enzyme ImmunoAssay (ELISA) for the determination of IgG antibodies to groups ACWY Meningococcus in human plasma and sera. The product is intended for the follow-up of patients administered with a meningococcal vaccine, containing the polysaccharides from groups A, C, Y and W135.
Neisseria meningitidis, also simply known as meningococcus, is a heterotrophic gram-negative diplococcal bacterium best known for its role in meningitis and other forms of meningococcal disease. It only infects humans.It is the only form of bacterial meningitis known to cause epidemics.
The bacteria, which can spread from person to person, usually first causes a colonization in the upper airway, but without symptoms. From there, it can penetrate into the bloodstream to the central nervous system and cause meningitis or develop into a full-blown bloodstream infection (meningococcemia).
Twelve subtypes or serogroups of N. meningitidis have been identified and four (N. meningitidis. A, B, C and W135) are recognized to cause epidemics. The pathogenicity, immunogenicity, and epidemic capabilities differ according to the serogroup. Thus the identification of the serogroup responsible of a sporadic case is crucial for epidemic containment.
The meningococcal vaccines currently approved for use in humans are made from the variant, purified capsular polysaccharides, which are characteristic of the bacteria membrane. Vaccines are available for groups A, C, Y and W135, but not group B. Antibodies against the meningococcal capsular polysaccharides (MCP) are protective in adults and children above 2 years, and antibodies have been detected four years after vaccination.
Microplates are coated with a preparation of purified capsular polysaccharides formed by serogroups A, B, C, Y and W135. In the 1st incubation, the solid phase is treated with diluted samples and anti-Meningococcus IgG are captured, if present, by the antigens.
After washing out all the other components of the sample, in the 2nd incubation bound anti-Men IgG are detected by the addition of anti hIgG antibody, labeled with peroxidase (HRP).
The enzyme captured on the solid phase, acting on the substrate/chromogen mixture, generates an optical signal that is proportional to the amount of anti-Men IgG antibodies present in the sample.
A cut-off value permits to transform the optical density values detected in positive or negative results due to the presence of absence of anti-Men IgG.
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