Table 4.

Performance of various tests used for detection of specific antibodies

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
IF-ANA	Cost effective Easy to perform High sensitivity and specificity	Time consuming Can give false positive results ENA categorization difficult Requires trained personnel
ELISA	Automated Potential for quantification High sensitivity Potential for antibody class definition	Potential for false positives Expensive Requires purified antigen
DID	Cost effective High specificity Detects multiple antibodies at a time	Low sensitivity Subjective interpretation Need for large volumes of prototype sera
CIE	Cost effective High specificity Detects multiple antibodies at a time Faster than double diffusion	Modest sensitivity Subjective interpretation Need for large volumes of prototype sera
PHA	Semiquantitative High specificity	Time consuming Needs purified antigen
Western blot	More sensitive than DID and CIE High specificity	Expensive Time consuming Detects linear epitopes only
Dot/Line blot	Easy to perform, rapid High sensitivity and specificity Automation possible	Qualitative Distinction between certain antibodies difficult
MIA	Detects multiple antibodies at a time Quantitation possible	Expensive
Flowcytometry	Cost effective Automated High sensitivity	Provides single result at a time
Microarray	Detects multiple antibodies at a time Complete automation possible High sensitivity and specificity Cost effective	Not widely available