A solid-phase radioimmunoassay for detection of antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies is described. This method uses M. pneumoniae organisms grown in microtiter plate wells as a solid-phase antigen that is economical and easy to prepare. Results obtained from our studies indicate this RIA method is highly sensitive and reproducible. This is a more specific assay than the popular complement fixation (CF) method because the glycolipid haptens employed in the CF test are not unique to M. pneumoniae. Data on 34 serum samples from 12 patients indicate the applicability of this diagnostic method for clinical use. In addition, this method measures the immunoglobulin class-specific antibody activities which may be important in differentiating recent and past infections.