[Comparative evaluation of the sensitivity of immunofluorescence methods, immunoenzyme analysis and the lectin test for the rapid diagnosis of influenza].

Comparative study of the sensitivities of immunofluorescent microscopy (IFM), enzyme immunoassay, (EIA), and lectin test (LT) in the detection of influenza virus antigen in nasopharyngeal washings from patients with influenza, acute respiratory diseases, pneumonia, and laryngitis has been carried out. EIA modification (used in this study) based on the detection of a complex of viral core proteins (M + RNP) has been shown to be no less sensitive than IFM and suitable for use in the rapid diagnosis of influenza. It can be used in combination with other methods. The optimum time for collecting the washings off is day 2 from the disease onset for analysis by EIA technique and day 4 for LT.