The detection of leptospires by a chemiluminescent immunoassay

Rabbit serum hyperimmune to Leptospira interrogans var icterohaemorrhagiae serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, reference strain RGA was conjugated to the chemiluminescent label ABEI (6-[N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethyl amino]-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione) in the presence of the coupling agent, EDC (1-ethyl-3(3-dimethyl amino-propyl)-carbodiimide HCl). The luminescent conjugate was incubated with homologous and heterologous antigens. The results indicate that chemiluminescence may provide an accurate and rapid method of detecting leptospires in biological fluids.