[Development of an immunoenzyme method for detecting Francisella tularensis]

The conditions permitting the determination of F. tularesis cells by means of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in 3-5 hours have been established. Ways for enhancing the reliability of results obtained in the assay of the least possible amount of the test material have been proposed. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid EIA technique permitting the determination of F. tularensis cells at a concentration of 20 000 cells/ml in the presence of other bacterial cells in 100-fold excess have been shown.