Refinement of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting sapstain fungi in wood

Antigens from Ophiostoma sp. C28 could be removed effectively from solid wood by grinding thin sections of wood or sawdust in buffer. Fungal antigens were more soluble when detergents (Tween 20 or Triton X100) were added to the extracting buffer. The detergent had to be subseguently removed or diluted out, because it interfered and prevented the binding of the antigen onto the microtitration plate. Good results were also obtained when the ELISA was performed directly on thin sections of wood. This latter procedure was significantly less time consuming.