Production of monoclonal antibodies to rotavirus suitable for detection of rotavirus in stool samples by one-step EIA.

Two stable hybridoma cell clones producing high amounts of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to rotavirus have been selected. The MAbs were shown to recognize different epitopes of the major inner capsid rotavirus protein VP 6. The two types of MAb in question cross-reacted with human and animal group A rotaviruses. Due to their high affinity and good binding capacity to microtiter plates a simultaneous EIA was developed for detection of rotavirus in stool samples. The sensitivity and specificity of MAb one-step EIA was compared with an approved polyclonal sandwich EIA by testing 1309 stool samples.