A simple, rapid ELISA method for the detection of DNA antibodies.

Employing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique the serum antibodies against native (double stranded) and denatured (single stranded) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) have been measured in various disease groups and a group of blood donor sera. The ELISA method has been compared with a radioimmunoassay method using native (double stranded) DNA is substrate antigen and a latex-fixation technique using particles coated with soluble deoxyribonucleoprotein (SNP). It is concluded that ELISA offers an economic and reliable alternative to isotope techniques for the assessment of antibody content in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related disease states for the clinical laboratory.