Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
C6 peptide enzyme immunoassay in Lyme borreliosis serology
List of Authors: Rouhiainen Meri, Pietikäinen Annukka, Kortela Elisa, Kanerva Mari J, Oksi Jarmo, Hytönen Jukka
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication year: 2021
Journal: Journal of Microbiological Methods
Journal name in source: Journal of microbiological methods
Journal acronym: J Microbiol Methods
Volume number: 180
ISSN: 0167-7012
eISSN: 1872-8359
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106122
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106122
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/50965176
The cut-off values used in C6 peptide-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA), a widely used test in Lyme borreliosis (LB) serology, have not been thoroughly analysed. The objective of the study was to examine the performance of the C6 EIA, and to determine optimal cut-off values for the test. The analysed data contained results of 1368 serum samples. C6 EIA index values were compared statistically with the immunoblot (IB) test results. The identified cut-off values were further tested in a well-defined LB patient cohort. Cut-off value 1.6 appeared to be optimal when C6 EIA was used as a stand-alone test. When using C6 EIA as the first-tier test, the optimal cut-off values were 0.9 and 2.4 for negative and positive results. When C6 EIA was used as a second-tier test, samples yielding C6 index values ≥3.0 could be considered positive. The identified cut-off values had also a high sensitivity to identify seropositivity among definite LB patients. The identified cut-off values refine the role of C6 EIA in LB serology. Importantly, the use of C6 EIA leads to a reduction in the number of samples that need to be analysed using an IB, thus also reducing the costs. Two alternative workflows for LB serology including the C6 EIA are suggested.
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