Method for the Detection of an IgM Antibody Specific for a Flavivirus in a Sample

A method for the detection of an IgM antibody specific for a flavivirus in a sample, comprising:

• (a) contacting the sample with a solid support comprising immobilised IgM-binding molecules,
• (b) allowing binding of IgM antibodies in the sample to the IgM binding molecules on the solid support so that the IgM antibodies are also immobilised on the solid support, and
• (c) premixing an antiparallel dimer of soluble flavivirus Protein E (sE) with a marker for formation of a complex comprising the sE dimer and the marker, wherein the antiparallel dimer of sE comprises a tag and wherein the tag links the marker to the antiparallel dimer of sE, and
• (d) detecting IgM antibodies specific for a flavivirus by allowing binding of the preformed complex
• and identifying the binding of the complex to the specific flavivirus IgM antibody by detecting the marker.