Discriminant analysis of data in enzyme immunoassay.

A critical step in the development of both qualitative and quantitative enzyme immunoassays is establishing the positive/negative discrimination, or cut-off, value. Data derived from an indirect immunofluorescence assay, hemagglutination inhibition, and enzyme immunoassay to detect IgG antibodies to measles virus were applied to a discriminant analysis program to determine the positive/negative cut-off value. Application of the discriminant analysis demonstrated a greater utilization of the sensitivity of the enzyme immunoassay than the most commonly used methods. This method also illustrates the importance of examining both antibody positive and negative sera, rather than negative sera alone, in determining the cut-off value. In addition, probability of membership in the antibody positive or negative group is included in the determination. This increases the information base for risk assessment and clinical evaluation.