Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of clostridium botulinum type F toxin

Abstract

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the so-called ``double-sandwich`` technique was applied to determine $\underline{Clostridium}$ $\underline{botulinum}$type F toxin. By this technique, about 10 mouse intraperitoneal 50% lethal doses of type F toxin could be detected with negligible back-ground. This low back-ground reading was achieved with the use of phosphate-buffered saline containing 0.05% Tween 20 and 1% bovine serum albumin (PTB) as a diluent of bridging antibody and conjugate. For accurate determination of type F toxin in samples, addition of EDTA seems to be necessary. This assay permits no cross-reaction with botulinum toxins of other types tested.