Monoclonal antibodies for the control of influenza virusvaccines.

Hybridomas producing haemagglutination inhibiting monoclonal antibodies against influenza A/Texas/1/77 H3N2 were developed. One hybridoma producing antibodies reacting with Victoria/3/75, Texas/1/77 Bangkok/1/79 and England/496/80 was selected to determine the potency of influenza virusvaccines. Tests were performed in a newly developed Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). For this purpose microtiter plates were successively coated with the monoclonal antibody, washed, incubated with vaccine or standard, washed, incubated with the peroxidase conjugated monoclonal antibody, washed and finally incubated with a substrate. Samples of the vaccine and of a standard containing 25-100 ng of antigen were assayed in the ELISA and the results were compared with those obtained in a rocket electrophoresis method. Linear regression analysis of the results showed that the correlation coefficients obtained with standards and vaccines for both methods were greater than or equal to 0.96. The comparison of vaccine potencies determined in the ELISA and the rocket electrophoresis method will be discussed.