Rapid separation of immunoglobulin M by immunoaffinity chromatography for detection of specific antibodies to rubella and Treponema pallidum.

A rapid and easy method for isolating IgM from serum specimens in order to detect specific antibodies against Treponema pallidum and rubella virus by routine serologic procedures is described. Serum IgM was isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography using anti-human IgM antibodies covalently bound to controlled-pore glass beads in a microcolumn. The final concentration of the IgM in the samples tested amounted to at least 16% (average 32%) of the original concentration (corresponding to a serum dilution of 1 : less than 8). IgG contamination did not exceed 0.38% of the original serum concentration. The capacity of the column was stable for at least 50 absorption/elution cycles. The new technique enables rapid and reliable detection of specific IgM by the rubella hemagglutination inhibition and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination tests.