Solid-phase immune electron microscopy-double-antibody technique for rapid detection of papovaviruses.

The solid-phase immune electron microscopy-double-antibody technique, which takes less than 1 h to perform, was applied as a rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tool in the demonstration of papovavirus particles. BK virus propagated in 82C human skin fibroblasts and a monospecific high-titer immune serum to BK virus were used to establish the test procedure. When Formvar-carbon-coated grids were treated with appropriately diluted antibody, a 28-fold increase of virus particles per square micrometer was observed. Viewing of the virus particles was facilitated by the addition of a second "decorator" antibody. BK virus preparations at concentrations of 10(2) to 10(3) PFU/ml could be detected by this technique. There was no cross-reaction with mouse polyomavirus.