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International Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care Volume 1 (2015), Article ID 1:IJPNC-108, 4 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2455-2364/2015/108
Research Article
Study on Assays for the Detection of Serum Antibodies to Measles from Children and Its Standardization

Kei Numazaki

Division of International Infectious Diseases, Graduate School and Departments of Pediatrics, University Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Nasu-shiobara, Tochigi, 329-2763, Japan
Dr. Kei Numazaki, Division of International Infectious Diseases, Graduate School and Departments of Pediatrics, University Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Nasu-shiobara, Tochigi, 329-2763, Japan; E-mail: rdelrio@hsjdbcn.org
13 March 2015; 01 August 2015; 03 August 2015
Numazaki K (2015) Study on Assays for the Detection of Serum Antibodies to Measles from Children and Its Standardization. Int J Pediatr Neonat Care 1: 108. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2455-2364/2015/108

Abstract

Background: Measles is an acute febrile rashes and infections caused by the measles virus belonging to the paramyxovirus. Traditionally the diagnosis of measles had been based on clinical symptoms in daily clinical practice. In recent years, many clinical cases do not show typical clinical manifestations and laboratory confirmation of the disease is definitely required. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of establishment of serological assays for diagnosis of measles in the pediatric field with universal standard.
Methods: Serum samples were obtained from the 79 patients in the pediatric field. The correlation of the results between obtained by the diagnostic serological assays such as HI, NT, PA and EIA, and laboratory diagnosis and clinical findings or symptoms in general pediatric populations was investigated.
Results: We examined the correlation of sensitivity and specificity between serological assays and symptoms in patients with measles. PA showed lower sensitivity and specificity than EIA. Antibody titers obtained by PA assay were higher compared to conventional HI method. The serum prevalence by PA was 98.7 %, 97.5% by EIA and 86.1 by HI. HI test comparing with NT the sensitivity and specificity was low. In high PA antibody serum of acute phase of infection meaningful correlation was observed with NT antibody titers.
Conclusion: Measles diagnosed with clinical findings should be identified with differential diagnosis of measles cases obtained by laboratory confirmation. Although NT test assumed to reflect the immunity against infectious agents, each method of HI and not only the problems on sensitivity and specificity, but also interventions on issues became alert. International standardization and universalism seems to be necessary for EIA assays.