Serum Neutralization Tests in Mice and in Tissue Culture Against Three Types of Poliomyelitis Virus

Abstract

A method of effective utilization of the three types of mouse adapted poliomyelitis viruses in serum neutralization tests is described. With this technic, 110 human sera were tested and age-antibody distribution curves generally following previously established patterns were demonstrated for all three types of the virus. The results with individual sera were obtained with rapidity and regularity. The results of mouse neutralization tests were compared with those obtained by a tissue culture neutralization method and they were found to be in close correlation. When individual sera were compared by both methods, about 90% were in complete agreement and 10% at variance. However, these discrepancies occurred principally among the sera which gave orderline neutralization results by the mouse test. Such sera were shown to have a low titer, while sera which were definitely positive by both methods had a relatively high titer. Further studies with view toward standardization of technics and establishment of criteria for the choice of neutralization test systems are desirable.