Speedy, Sensitive, and Specific Diagnosis of Pertussis by Using Serum and the Sensitized-Particle Test

In their recent communication, Aoyama et al. (1) reported that they were successful in obtaining a serological diagnosis of pertussis by using Bordetella pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitized po-rous, spherical, poly(g-methyl-L-glutamate) particles. The par-ticle agglutination test (KPA) was standardized for detection and quantification of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against PT by comparison of serological results with those obtained by indi-rect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the microagglu-tination test. Obviously, an IgG anti-PT serologic test would be of immense utility in seroepidemiological investigations and monitoring of community response to pertussis vaccination; it would require appropriate technological modification to detect anti-PT IgM. The modified technique, upon its standardization to detect IgM anti-PT antibody, would be of great utility for specific diagnosis of pertussis during the early phase of infec