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J Med Microbiol 57 (2008), 316-323; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.47365-0
© 2008 Society for General Microbiology
ISSN 1473-5644

The TUBEX test detects not only typhoid-specific antibodies but also soluble antigens and whole bacteria

Frankie C. H. Tam1, Thomas K. W. Ling2, Kam Tak Wong2, Danny T. M. Leung1, Raphael C. Y. Chan2 and Pak Leong Lim1

1 Clinical Immunology Unit, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

2 Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

Correspondence
Pak-Leong Lim
pllim{at}cuhk.edu.hk

Received 27 April 2007
Accepted 2 December 2007

TUBEX (IDL Biotech) is a 5 min semiquantitative colorimetric test for typhoid fever, a widely endemic disease. TUBEX detects anti-Salmonella O9 antibodies from a patient's serum by the ability of these antibodies to inhibit the binding between an indicator antibody-bound particle and a magnetic antigen-bound particle. Herein, we report that TUBEX could also be used to specifically detect soluble O9 lipopolysaccharide in antigen-spiked buffer by the ability of the antigen to inhibit the same binding between the particles. Sensitivity of antigen detection was improved (8–31 µg ml–1) by using a modified protocol in which the test sample was mixed with the indicator particles first, rather than with the magnetic particles as for antibody detection. The antigen was also detectable in spiked serum and urine samples, albeit less well (2–4-fold) than in buffer generally. However, no antigen was detected from six typhoid sera examined, all of which had anti-O9 antibodies. In addition, whole organisms of Salmonella Typhi (15 strains) and Salmonella Enteritidis (6 strains) (both O9+ Salmonella), grown in simulated blood broths or on MacConkey agar, were also detectable by TUBEX when suspended at >9x108 organisms ml–1. Expectedly, Salmonella Paratyphi A (7 strains), Salmonella Typhimurium (1 strain) and Escherichia coli (2 strains) were negative in the test. Thus, the same TUBEX kit may be used in several ways both serologically and microbiologically for the rapid diagnosis of typhoid fever. However, validation of the newer applications will require the systematic examination of real patient and laboratory materials.




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F. C. H. Tam, D. T. M. Leung, C. H. Ma, and P.-L. Lim
Modification of the TUBEX typhoid test to detect antibodies directly from haemolytic serum and whole blood
J. Med. Microbiol., November 1, 2008; 57(11): 1349 - 1353.
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