Detection of anti-dna antibodies: A comparison between two farr assays, Crithidia luciliae and a human chromosomal substrate assay

Abstract

Four commercially available assays were compared with a 14C DNA Farr assay for their ability to detect anti-DNA antibodies in 119 sera from 109 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 25 control sera. The 14C DNA Farr assay was the most sensitive and specific assay (SLE, 57% positive, controls, 0%). A commercial 125I DNA Farr assay was significantly less sensitive (SLE, 39% positive). The fluorescence human chromosomal preparation assay was as sensitive as the 14C DNA Farr assay (SLE, 58% positive) but less specific (controls, 8% positive). The immunofluorescence Crithidia luciliae assay was specific, but less sensitive (SLE, 37% positive) than the MC DNA Farr assay. Adaptation ..