[Comparative study of 2 latex tests (rubalex and rubascan) with an immunoenzyme test (enzygnost-rubella) and a hemagglutination inhibition test for the study of anti-rubella antibodies].

Four different assays for detection of rubella IgG antibodies, two latex agglutination (Rubalex and Rubascan), one hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and one enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA IgG), were used to test 372 human serum samples. All samples were also tested with a rubella ELISA IgM test and all of them were found negative. The results obtained in 358 (96.2%) out of 372 samples tested were identical with all procedures. Inconclusive results were obtained in 14 (3.8%) specimens, in that there were positive and negative results for the different assays. These 14 specimens were sent to the Institute of Virology in Turku (Finland) and tested by using a hemolysis in gel and a non commercially-available ELISA IgG test. Results obtained with the two last tests were considered definitive. The two latex tests were found equal or better than HAI and ELISA IgG for sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore they were also cost effective and more simple to perform.