Pertussis,alsoknownaswhoopingcough,isarespiratoryinfectionthatcausesapersistentcoughinallagegroupsfromthenewborntotheelderly.BordetellapertussisbacteriaproduceaseriesofBIOLOGicallyactivemoleculeslikepertussistoxin(PT),filamentoushaemagglutinin(FHA)andvariouslipopolysaccharides(LPS).Thesevariouscompoundsappeareitherduringthepathogenesisorduringtheprocessofimmunization.PTisspecificforbordetellapertussiswhereasFHAisfoundinbordetellapertussisandparapertussis.ThereforethecombinedapplicationofsingleantigenELISAs(PTandFHAseparately)canbeusedfordifferentialdiagnosisofaninfectionwithBordetellapertussisandBordetellaparapertussis.FurThermorenearlyallacellularvaccineslicensedinEuropecontainPTandFHAinsubstantialamounts.Over90%ofresponsesarethereforedirectedagainsttheimmunogensPTandFHA.

IBLInternationaloffersabroadpanelofELISAsfordetectionofBordetellainfectionandmonitoringofimmunostatus.ThiscomprisesassaysfordeterminationofIgGandIgAantibodiesagainstsingleantigensaswellasIgA,IgGandIgMantibodiesagainstmixedantigens(PT+FHA).Allassaysareeasytouse,fastandsensitive.FurthermorethesingleantigenELISAsarecalibratedagainstinternationalreferencestandard(IU/mL).