[Application of single radial hemolysis technique for diagnosis of influenza A (H5N1)].
BACKGROUND
To understand the optimal condition of single radial hemolysis (SRH) for diagnosis of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in order that SRH could be performed in general laboratories.


METHODS
The effect of different concentration of virus and species of red blood cells, as well as kind and concentration of agarose on testing sensitivity of SRH was determined. Meanwhile the sensitivity and specificity of this method were compared with those of micro-neutralization test.


RESULTS
The optimal condition of SRH included the viral concentration of 1000 HA units per 0.1 ml packed chicken red blood cells, the agarose concentration of 1.0%, the compliment added into agarose-virus-rbc slides after diffusion of sera. The sensitivity and specificity of SRH were very similar to those of micro-neutralization test. Meanwhile, no cross reaction between antibodies, especially antibodies against N1 antigens, H5N1 and H1N1 viruses was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
The sensitivity and specificity of SRH were very similar to those of micro-neutralization assay. SRH could be performed in normal laboratories and be used for testing large scale serum samples.
Guo
Yuan-ji
YJ
Department of Influenza, Chinese Influenza Center, Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100052, China.
Wang
Min
M
Zhang
Ye
Y
Dong
Jie
J
Wen
Lue-ying
LY
Guo
Jun-feng
JF
Li
Zi
Z
Yang
Wei-zhong
WZ
Yu
Hong-jie
HJ
Shu
Yue-long
YL
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral