title: Monoclonal antibodies for the rapid diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus infection by immunofluorescence.
abstract: Eight separate monoclonal antibodies to the Long strain of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were tested for their utility as rapid diagnostic reagents in immunofluorescence. Preliminary screening indicated that all 8 reacted with 11 field strains from three previous local RSV outbreaks and with 4 of 5 additional strains chosen because of their antigenic diversity by neutralization. Two monoclonal antibodies, one each directed against a surface glycoprotein and the nucleocapsid protein, were then compared, singly and combined, with a polyclonal antiserum as diagnostic reagents in 209 consecutive samples submitted to our diagnostic laboratory. Agreement between the two monoclonal antibodies was 100% and between them and the polyclonal serum was 98%. Sensitivity in relation to culture was 96-98%. Monoclonal antibodies are excellent immunofluorescent diagnostic reagents; antigenic diversity among RSV strains was not an impediment to their use in this study.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins