European multicenter study of the LIAISON automated diagnostic system for determination of Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM and the IgG avidity index

J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Apr;43(4):1570-4. doi: 10.1128/JCM.43.4.1570-1574.2005.

Abstract

The LIAISON system is a fully automated system based on chemiluminescence and antigen bound to magnetic microparticles. The system allows fast and precise measurement of Toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibody levels and measurement of the IgG avidity index even at low levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies in a single step without manual interference. Seven European centers participated in a multicenter evaluation of the LIAISON system. The sensitivity and specificity of the LIAISON system compared to the Sabin-Feldman dye test were 99.3 and 96.8%, respectively. In a comparison of the LIAISON Toxoplasma-specific IgM assay with an immunosorbent agglutination assay, the LIAISON assay had a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 95.4%. The LIAISON IgG assay showed agreements of 91, 100, and 100% with the AXSYM IgG (Abbott), VIDAS IgG (bioMerieux), and Platelia IgG (Bio-Rad) assays, respectively. The LIAISON IgM assay showed agreements of 95% with the AXSYM IgM and Platelia IgM assays, 96% with the ISAGA IgM assay (bioMerieux), and 97% with the VIDAS IgM assay. The coefficient of correlation between the LIAISON system and the VIDAS Toxoplasma-specific IgG avidity index was 0.81. By use of the Toxoplasma-specific IgG avidity index assay with specific IgM-positive samples, the diagnosis of infection with Toxoplasma gondii in early pregnancy has been improved significantly. The LIAISON avidity assay is a valuable assay for the exclusion of recently acquired infection with T. gondii (less than 4 months) in pregnant women, and it decreases significantly the necessity for follow-up testing.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Affinity*
  • Automation
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Laboratories*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / diagnosis*
  • Toxoplasmosis / parasitology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / diagnosis
  • Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / parasitology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic