Abstracts

Abstract

Recent advances in laboratory diagnostic technology has shifted from classical procedures such as serum neutralization and complement fixation, to procedures that are more rapid, specific, sensitive and generally less expensive. Accordingly for routine serologic diagnosis in the virus laboratory, ELISA-EIA has replaced for practical purposes, those first generation procedures. Here too, modifications of the original procedure have resulted in simplified methodologies that have practically eliminated the need for laboratory equipment. Development in this laboratory of a dot-immunobinding assay (DIA) for the rapid detection of viral antibody is one such method. Application of this DIA to a variety of different viral antigens has clearly demonstrated its usefulness in the field or office setting. One area of the test requiring some laboratory support was that of using patients’ serum which necessitated use of a syringe and generally a centrifuge. That whole blood could be used rather than serum and, further, applied directly onto the DIA test system was recently demonstrated. Blood collected on filter paper precut to fit the test following a finger stick has been successfully applied to the DIA. Further, blood collected in this fashion may be shipped via the mail and remains stable for relatively long periods of time. DIA results using whole blood or serum were identical. No increased nonspecific reactions or interfering background was observed.