The DRG Taenia solium IgG ELISA is for the qualitative screening of serum or plasma IgG antibodies to Taenia solium using an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique.
Infection of the larval form (cysticerci) of Taenia in any tissue or organ is known as the disease cysticercosis. Many sites of infection have been documented but the central nervous system has been the most common. Presence of the cysticerci in the brain may cause increased cranial pressure, seizures and altered mental states. Any person with impaired CNS function should have the possibility of T. solium infection investigated.
The micro test wells are coated with T. solium cyst fluid antigen. During the first incubation with the diluted patient sample, any antibodies which are reactive with the antigen will bind to the coated wells. After washing to remove the rest of the sample, the Enzyme Conjugate is added. If antibodies have been bound to the wells, the Enzyme Conjugate will then bind to these antibodies. After another series of washes, a chromogen (tetramethylbenzidine or TMB) is added. If the Enzyme Conjugate is present, the peroxidase will catalyze a reaction that consumes the peroxide and turns the chromogen from clear to blue. Addition of the stop solution ends the reaction and turns the blue color to a bright yellow color. The reaction may then be read visually or with an ELISA reader.