Comparison of serological methods for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to rubella virus

Four commercial kits- the hemagglutination inhibition test Behring (HI-B), the HI Rubenosticon, the latex test Rubalex, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ETI-RUBEK G--and a non-commercial hemolysis test in gel (SRH) were compared for the measurement of rubella IgG antibodies by testing 126 serum samples, submitted for rubella immune status determination. Two commercial ELISAs (ETI-RUBEK M and Rubazyme M) were also evaluated for the detection of rubella IgM antibodies on 64 sera from patients with suspected acute rubella infection. In the assay for rubella specific IgG antibodies, HI-B and ETI-RUBEK G tests exhibited the most sensitivity, whereas Rubenosticon and Rubalex tests showed more specificity. In the IgM evaluations, six false positive results were shown by Rubazyme M, whereas the ETI-RUBEK M kit was sensitive and specific. On the basis of all the determinations, a combination of two tests (HI-B and SRH) appears to be a good simple system to obtain valid indications in serological rubella diagnosis.