An evaluation of immunoglobulin assays on the ACA III

We evaluated an immunoturbidimetric Du Pont ACA method for the determination of IgG, IgA and IgM in serum. Between-day reproducibilities of the ACA assays were comparable to those of a radial immunodiffusion, a Hyland nephelometric and a turbidimetric assay on Centrifichem 400. Correlations between results obtained by these methods were acceptable, but the results differed quantitatively. After simulated recalibration based on results of control sera or patient samples, the results for IgA and IgM became more interchangeable. IgM concentrations below 0.25 g/l, which are important for the assessment of intra-uterine infections, could not be quantified with the ACA. Moderate levels of haemoglobin, bilirubin or lipids do not interfere with the ACA assays. The evaluated assays are fast and easy to use.