SINGLE-RADIAL-HEMOLYSIS - NEW METHOD FOR ASSAY OF ANTIBODY TO INFLUENZA HEMAGGLUTININ - APPLICATIONS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEILLANCE OF INFLUENZA

Abstract

A simple single-radial-hemolysis technique is described that permits the detection and assay of antibody to influenza virus hemagglutinin. The method depends on the passive hemolysis of virus-treated erythrocytes by antihemagglutinin antibody and complement. Under the standard test conditions described antibody to the other surface antigen of the influenza virus (neuraminidase) or to the internal antigens of the virus (nucleoprotein and matrix protein) do not produce hemolysis. Because it requires only small amounts of crude virus antigen and is rapid and simple, the method appears to be of considerable value for large-scale seroepidemiologic studies of new influenza virus variants. Antihemagglutinin antibody detected by single-radial-hemolysis appears to be relatively strain-specific; the technique may be useful in the antigenic characterization of virus isolates.