The validation of an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of antibodies to bovine leukosis virus

Validation of an enzyme immuno-assay for detection of antibodies against bovine leucosis virus is described in this paper. Internal standardisation of the test was done by means of a negative control serum. With absolute extinction of the negative control serum between 100 and 200 mE, a serum sample is rated positive, if its extinction is 1.5 times above the control. The methodological sensitivity of the enzyme immuno-assay described has proved to be four times as high as that of the immunodiffusion test. The results recorded at five diagnostic laboratories suggested a sensitivity of the test of 97.6 percent (92.1 to 100 percent) and a specificity of 98.1 percent (94.4 to 100 percent). The high efficiency of the test can be confirmed by immunoblotting.