Competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay for the quantitation of platelet-associated immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) and complement (C3c, C3d) with polyclonal and monoclonal reagents

A competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (CELIA) was developed for the quantitation of platelet-associated immunoglobulins and complement proteins. The use of unlabeled polyclonal rabbit or monoclonal antibodies to human immunoglobulins and enzyme-labeled anti-mouse or anti--rabbit IgG (double-step technique) resulted in a higher sensitivity compared to the single-step technique using only enzyme-labeled anti-human immunoglobulin antibody preparations. Sensitivity and results obtained by both techniques were compared. The range of normal values for platelet-associated IgG, IgM, IgA, C3c and C3d was assessed upon a large number of normal blood donors. When platelet-associated IgG was concomitantly assayed with polyclonal and monoclonal anti-IgG by the double-step technique on platelets obtained from normal donors and thrombocytopenic patients, identical results were obtained with both reagents. Problems related to the quantitation of immunoglobulins on platelets with different assays and antibody preparations are discussed.