A Highly Sensitive Enzyme Immunoassay of Anti-Insulin Antibodies in Guinea Pig Serum

A highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay of anti-insulin antibodies in guinea pig serum is described. Guinea pig anti-insulin serum was diluted to various extents with nonspecific guinea pig serum and incubated with insulin. Insulin bound to anti-insulin antibodies was separated from free insulin by precipitation with polyethylene glycol. Anti-insulin antibodies in the precipitates were dissociated from insulin and inactivated by incubation with 0.1 mol/1 HCl. The amount of insulin dissociated was measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay using anti-insulin IgG-coated polystyrene balls and affinity-purified anti-insulin Fab′-horseradish peroxidase conjugate. The detection limit of anti-insulin antibodies in guinea pig serum was improved 1,000-fold as compared with that of the enzyme immunoassay previously described, in which insulin-coated polystyrene balls were incubated with diluted guinea pig anti-insulin serum and subsequently with rabbit (anti-guinea pig IgG) Fab′-horseradish peroxidase conjugate.