A slide antigen in the indirect fluorescent antibody test for Trichinella spiralis.

A stable cuticular slide antigen was prepared for use in the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test for trichinosis. Cuticles of Trichinella spiralis larvae, prepared by pepsin digestion, were embedded in Tissue-Tek OCT embedding medium, frozen, and sections made and mounted on slides. After storage at –70° for 2 days to allow the antigen sections to become firmly affixed to the slides, they may be used to perform the IFA test for trichinosis. This method is less time-consuming, due to the elimination of centrifugation steps, than the antigen presently in use for the trichinosis IFA test, and should be applicable to other IFA procedures.