Abstract
Objective—To develop and validate an ELISA for quantitative analysis of feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI).
Sample Population—Purified feline cationic trypsin (fCT) and rabbit anti-fCT antiserum; blood samples from 63 healthy cats.
Procedures—A sandwich capture ELISA was developed, using anti-fCT antiserum purified by affinity chromatography that underwent biotinylation. Purified fCT was used for standards. The assay was validated by determination of sensitivity, working range, linearity, accuracy, precision, and reproducibility. A reference range was established by assaying serum samples from the 63 healthy cats.
Results—Sensitivity was 1.23 µg/L; working range was 2 to 567 µg/L. Ratios of observed versus expected results for 4 samples tested at various dilutions ranged from 90.0 to 120.7%. Ratios of observed versus expected results for 5 samples spiked with various concentrations of fCT ranged from 82.0 to 101.8%. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variability ranged from 9.9 to 11.1% and from 10.2 to 21.7%, respectively. The reference range for serum fTLI measured with this ELISA was 12 to 82 µg/L.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that an ELISA can be used to measure serum fTLI in cats. The ELISA was sufficiently sensitive, linear, accurate, precise, and reproducible for clinical use. (Am J Vet Res 2000;61:620–623)
