The Use of Soluble Antigen for the Serological Diagnosis of Influenza in Vaccinated Populations

Abstract

Serological studies using the soluble antigen of influenza were performed at the U. S Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, during the winter months of 1954-55 and 1955-56. When soluble antigen was used in place of infected allantoic fluid in the complement fixation test it permitted the detection of antibody titer rises from an influenza infection in immunized persons. The antibody rises to soluble antigen correlated with clinical symptoms. The small amount of soluble antigen present in commercial vaccine appeared to have little immuno-genic effect when given to Navy recruits. A simple and economical procedure is described for the preparation of soluble antigen.