title: Norwalk virus antigen and antibody response in an adult volunteer study.
abstract: To better define the optimum timing of specimen collection and identify alternate ways to diagnose Norwalk virus outbreaks, we looked at the timing of the antibody response and virus excretion in a human volunteer study. The Norwalk virus antibody titers and antigen in stool specimens were examined by biotin-avidin immunoassay. Our data suggest that in epidemic situations, convalescent-phase sera could be collected as soon as 13 days after the onset of illness and acute-phase sera could be collected as late as 5 days after onset. Our data also suggest that if sufficient serum samples are collected, convalescent-phase case and control serum samples can be used to identify Norwalk virus outbreaks. Antigen detection was much less sensitive than seroconversion for detecting infection.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Enterovirus Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Gary
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Keswick
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: DuPont
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Stine
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D009663:Norwalk virus / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral