[Development of an immunoenzyme test system for the quantitative demonstration of influenza virus hemagglutinin in biological specimens].

A test system for the detection and quantitation of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) in biological specimens by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (SPEIA) is described. The test system implies sequential adsorption on polystyrene base of anti-HA guinea pig gammaglobulins, detectable HA-containing antigen, monospecific anti-HA rabbit serum, and peroxidase antirabbit conjugate. Adsorption of the HA-containing antigen is run in the presence of a high concentration of nonionic detergent. The developed method is highly sensitive (0.3-0.5 ng in a specimen) and permits the detection and quantitation of HA in whole influenza virions, preparations of surface glycoproteins and in preparations of hemagglutinin recovered from virus particles. The analysis (after pre-sensitization of the polystyrene adsorbent) takes from 2 to 21/2 hours. The possibility of using the developed test system for control and standardization of inactivated influenza vaccines (whole-virion, split, and subunit) is discussed.