Comparison of influenza serological techniques by international collaborative study

doi:10.1016/0264-410X(94)90056-6

Vaccine

Volume 12, Issue 2, 1994, Pages 167-174

https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-410X(94)90056-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

An international collaborative study was performed to investigate the reproducibility of influenza serological techniques. Participants in seven laboratories representing five countries measured antibody to A/Sichuan/2/87 (H3N2), A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1N1) and B/Beijing/1/87 influenza viruses in 11 human sera and three postinfection ferret sera. Two different serological techniques were used, haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and single-radial haemolysis (SRH) and, although each technique was reproducible within laboratories, variability between laboratories was higher for H1 (maximum variability 32-fold; geometric coefficient of variation, GCV, 112%) than for SRH (maximum variability 3.8-fold; GCV 57%). The use of a standard serum allowed direct comparison of HI and SRH data and, for each technique, a standard serum improved inter-laboratory agreement. For influenza A viruses there was a correlation between HI and SRH antibodies (correlation coefficient ∼ 0.9). An HI titre of 1:40 in human sera corresponded to an SRH titre of 19–33 mm². The results of the study indicate that two sera would be expected to contain different antibody levels if their HI titres differed by > fourfold and SRH areas differed by > 50%. Both SRH and HI possessed equivalent sensitivity for measurement of antibody to influenza A viruses but SRH was more sensitive for detection of antibody to influenza B viruses. The study provided valuable information about standardization of antibody assays.

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PaperComparison of influenza serological techniques by international collaborative study

Abstract

J. Biol. Stand.

J. Pediatrics

The quantitative determination of influenza virus and antibodies by means of red cell agglutination

J. Exp. Med.

Single radial haemolysis: a new method for the assay of antibody to influenza haemagglutinin

Bull. WHO

Influenza: The Virus and the Disease

Haemagglutinin specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies to influenza A and B viruses

J. Clin. Microbiol.

Influenza virus neuraminidase and neuraminidase-inhibition test procedures

Bull. WHO

The role of serum haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody in protection against challenge virus infection with A2 and B viruses

J. Hyg.

Comparison of haemagglutination inhibition and single radial haemolysis techniques for detection of antibodies to influenza B virus

Arch. Virol.

Microneutralization test for influenza A and B and parainfluenza 1 and 2 viruses that uses continuous cell lines and fresh serum enhancement

J. Clin. Microbiol.

Ether treatment of type B influenza virus antigen for the haemagglutination inhibition test

J. Clin. Microbiol.

A comparison of influenza B/Hong Kong infections in infants, children and young adults

J. Infect. Dis.

Paper
Comparison of influenza serological techniques by international collaborative study