title: Use of monoclonal antibodies for rapid detection of influenza A virus in nasopharyngeal secretions.
abstract: Two monoclonal antibodies against influenza A virus were assessed for use as diagnostic reagents in an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) of nasopharyngeal secretions. Monoclonal antibody IA-52, directed at an internal antigen, reacted with all influenza A tested. The high stability of this epitope permitted its use in a rapid IFA test, which gave results comparable to those obtained with polyclonal antibodies and viral isolation. The second monoclonal antibody, IA-279 was directed at a surface epitope (hemagglutinin); it reacted with almost all H3 subtype strains. Positive IFA using these monoclonal antibodies permitted rapid preliminary differentiation between the current two major subtypes of influenza A virus (H1N1, H3N2).
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral