Evaluation of the focus reduction neutralization and ELISA tests compared to the plaque reduction neutralization test for the detection of antibodies against measles virus

Measles is an infectious febrile sickness caused by the measles virus (MeV). Despite an effective vaccine, regional elimination of measles remains a global priority and still faces challenges.

To estimate community protection against measles, sensitive tests are needed to identify measles-specific antibodies. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the standard test for assessing immunity but may fail to detect weak antibody responses in vaccinated populations. The plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), is the gold standard test for the assessment of protective antibody levels, however, it is not suitable for routine use. This study validated the focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) as an alternative.

In eight assay runs, fifty serum samples were analyzed in triplicate using PRNT, FRNT, and ELISA. Data analysis revealed that 38 samples were positive by PRNT, 37 by FRNT, and 19 by ELISA. The results showed that ELISA was not sensitive enough to identify low levels of anti-measles antibodies and showed weak agreement with neutralization assays. In contrast, the two neutralization assays had a perfect correlation and similar sensitivity. FRNT appears to be a suitable alternative to PRNT for characterizing immunological responses and vaccination efficacy.

Our results highlight the necessity of validating negative and equivocal ELISA results through neutralization methods, during the elimination phases.