Detection of anti-botulinum toxin antibodies in serum or plasma 

The detection of anti-botulinum toxin antibodies is of interest in the following cases:

• Patients under treatment with diluted botulinum toxin, such as those who receive botox for aesthetic or medical treatments (e.g., facial pain due to trigeminal neuralgia), to detect the presence of antibodies that may prevent its action.

• Patients with suspected botulism in children or botulism in adults who have not been able to find the bacterium Clostridium botulinum or its toxin in faeces, nor the toxin in serum.

• Vaccinated individuals interested in checking the protection status.

The toxin of Clostridium botulinum, at very high dilutions, has been used by local administration to treat spastic processes. In these processes it has been shown that it can be a useful remedy. These spastic processes are usually chronic and therefore require that the toxin be administered in a lasting manner. Therefore, resistance may arise during treatment due to the progressive immunization of the patient throughout the treatment, in which case the remedy would be limited. To detect this immunization, it is necessary to measure accurately and sensitively the existence of antibodies against botulinum toxin A and / or B.

The accepted reference method for detecting and quantifying antibodies against botulinum toxin is the Mouse Neutralization Assay, in which a solution of botulinum toxin, quantified in 50% Lethal Dose for the mouse (LD₅₀), is mixed with several dilutions in base 2 or base 4 of the problem serum/plasma, and after an incubation is inoculated intraperitoneally in a few batches of mice. The highest dilution of the test serum that reduces the toxicity is the antibody titer against the corresponding botulinum toxin in the serum.

Tests available and recommended 

• Detection of anti-botulinum toxin antibodies in serum or plasma (a type of antibodies, so the type of toxin administered to the patient should be indicated or suspected suffered type of botulism suffered by the patient should be indicated).

Required sample 

• Serum or plasma samples (about 10 mL), to perform neutralization tests against dilutions of serum/plasma to the toxins available in the laboratory. The type of toxin administered to the patient should be indicated. 

Schedule for results 

• We cannot provide exact times.

Sample storage and shipping conditions 

• Serum or plasma samples must be preserved and sent protected for transport in conditions that guarantee refrigeration during transport (container with the sample inside an expanded polystyrene box - white cork - with frozen cold packs - frozen packs -). 

Form with product characteristics and chosen test(s) 

• If you request that test be carried out, you must send us with the product the specific request form that we have attached, indicating the characteristics of the product and the chosen tests that you wish to be carried out on the sample sent.