Application of subtype-specific monoclonal antibodies for rapid detection and identification of influenza A and B viruses

We established a rapid method for the identification of influenza A and B virus strains: the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) staining method with two subtype specific murine monoclonal antibodies, C179 (H1 and H2 specific) and F49 (H3 specific), and an anti-influenza B virus rabbit polyclonal serum, The types and subtypes of 160 strains were examined, and 158 strains were identified to be the same by the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test and the PAP method. In contrast to the results by the HI test, two strains were revealed to be a mixture of two subtypes (H1 and H3) by the PAP method, which was confirmed by plaque cloning. We further analyzed clinical specimens by the PAP method by directly inoculating specimens into Madin-Darby canine kidney cells in microplates. After 40 h of incubation, the types and subtypes of viruses in 52 of 152 specimens were clearly identified, Since the reactivities of the two monoclonal antibodies are not influenced by the antigenic drift of influenza virus, the newly developed method should be applicable not only for rapid diagnosis but also for the epidemiological study of influenza.