Elek's test

Elek's test, also known as the immuno diffusion technique,

is an in vitro virulence test performed upon Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
It is used to test for toxigenicity of C. diphtheriae.
A filter paper strip impregnated with diphtheria antitoxin is buried just beneath the surface of a special agar plate before the agar
hardens.
Strains to be tested, known positive and negative toxigenic strains are streaked on the agar's surface in a line across the plate and
at a right angle to the antitoxin paper strip.
After 24 hours of incubation at 37 degrees celsius, plates are examined with transmitted light for the presence of fine precipitin lines
at a 45-degree angle to the streaks.
The presence of precipitin lines indicated that the strain produced toxin that react with the antitoxin.

eleks gel ppt test a strip of filter paper is soaked in an antitoxin and placed on a
serum agar plate. Test culture with diphtheria bacilli is streaked at right angle to
long axis of filter paper. After incubation at 37 c for 48 hr there will be precipitation
of toxin along the strekes.
Elek's test, also known as the immuno diffusion technique, is an in vitro virulence test performed
uponCorynebacterium diphtheriae.[1] It is used to test for toxigenicity of C. diphtheriae.
It was characterized in 1949.[2] A filter paper strip impregnated with diphtheria antitoxin is buried just
beneath the surface of a special agar plate before the agar hardens. Strains to be tested, known
positive and negative toxigenic strains are streaked on the agar's surface in a line across the plate,
and at a right angle to the antitoxin paper strip. After 24 hours of incubation at 37 degrees celsius,
plates are examined with transmitted light for the presence of fine precipitin lines at a 45-degree
angle to the streaks. The presence of precipitin lines indicated that the strain produced toxin that
react with the antitoxin.

Definition of the ELEK's Test:

Infection by Corynebacterium diphtheriae is diagnosed using a throat swab. However, the swab contains a
mixture of Corynebacterium diphtheriae organisms and normal flora throat organisms. An ELEK test is
used to differentiate Corynebacterium diphtheriae organisms from normal flora organisms also called
diphtheroids.

ELEK's Test Agar Plate:

Horizontal lines: toxin-producing bacteria to be tested.
Vertical rectangle: filter paper soaked with antitoxin antibodies.
White lines: place where the filter paper and bacteria meet are lines of precipitation.

In Corynebacterium diphtheriae, toxin production occurs following infection of a normal flora bacterium
with a temperate phage that encodes the toxin - an example of lysogenic conversion. So, the lines marked
1 and 4 are bacteria that contain prophage DNA.

Schick test
It is a test demonstrating presence or absence of antitoxin immunity i.e presence or
absence of circulating antitoxin in the host. If toxin is injected intracutaneously to a
person with no antitoxin- there is local tissue damage and inflammation indicating
that the person is susceptible.
If toxin is injected to person with fairly god level of antitoxin- no rection will be there
due to neutralization of toxin by antitoxin indicating that the person is immune(-ve )