Bordetella pertussis toxin (PT) IgA ELISA kit (ab247192) is designed for the quantitative determination of IgA class antibodies against Bordetella pertussis toxin antigens in human serum or plasma (citrate, heparin).

The quantitative immunoenzymatic determination of specific antibodies is based on the ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique. Microplates are coated with specific antigens to bind corresponding antibodies of the sample. After washing the wells to remove all unbound sample material a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labelled conjugate is added. This conjugate binds to the captured antibodies. In a second washing step unbound conjugate is removed. The immune complex formed by the bound conjugate is visualized by adding Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate which gives a blue reaction product. The intensity of this product is proportional to the amount of specific antibodies in the sample. Sulphuric acid is added to stop the reaction. This produces a yellow endpoint colour. Absorbance at 450/620 nm is read using an ELISA microwell plate reader.

Bordetella pertussis is a respiratory pathogen that causes pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, a localized infection of the ciliated epithelium of the bronchial tree. Pertussis is characterized by a prolonged paroxysmal cough often accompanied by an inspiratory whoop. The disease affects mainly children, but adults have also been increasingly reported to be affected. The pathogen produces toxins which cause local damage to the cilia of epithelial cells, which leads to prolonged illness and pertussis. Disease presentation varies with age and history of previous exposure or vaccination. Severe disease is infrequent in healthy, vaccinated persons. Infants, particularly those who have not received the primary vaccination series against pertussis, are at risk for complications and mortality.