Haemophilus influenzae B (HIB) IgG ELISA

Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) is a very common cause of invasive critical Infectious Diseases in children up to the age of six. Following infection the symptoms of the disease include: Pericarditis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, encephalitis, pneumonia, sinusitis and otitis. In many cases the disease is lethal or leads to neurological damage, which cannot always be prevented by rapid antibiotic therapy. The underlying reason for the disease is very often a latent immunodeficiency with a specifically reduced humoral immune response to the polyribosylribitolphosphate (PRP) in the polysaccharide encapsulation of the bacterium. In children another reason is the immaturity of the immune system. Today often the term "immunocompromised patients" is used, comprising all acquired and innate specific and unspecific immunodeficiencies. As a result, in children of 3 months of age or older a vaccination with different sorts of PRP-containing vaccines is recommended. This can lead to a clear reduction in the number of infections with Haemophilus influenzae type B. The titer of antibodies produced by vaccination can be used to confirm whether the vaccination has been successful. The HiB IgG is used to measure the level of PRP-specific IgG-antibodies following a 4 6 week period after complete immunization to monitor the humoral immune status of children or other individuals at risk. Monitoring of the humoral immunostatus after vaccination. Verification of the diagnosis Haemophilus influenzae type B infection by repeated monitoring of antibody concentrations. Risk assessment in immunocompromised patients leading to a failure of vaccination with a PRP-containing vaccine. This group comprises: Children under 2 years having had an infection with Haemophilus influenzae type B, Children with chronic, recurring bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, Children with chronic otitis, Patients with confirmed humoral immuno-deficiencies (IgG-2-deficiency, IgA-deficiency), Patients with confirmed granulocyte deficiencies, Patients under chemo or cytostatic therapy, Children after splenectomy, Patients with sickle-cell anaemia, Patients with trisomy 21 (Down) syndrome, and certain ethnic groups.