Immune adherence hemadsorption: specific method for rapid identification of adenovirus antigens.

An immune adherence hemadsorption test for the rapid group-specific identification of adenoviruses is described. The test was performed directly on the cell culture isolate in less than 1 h, by the sequential addition of the antiserum of any adenovirus serotype, complement, and then C3b receptor-rich human erythrocytes. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of erythrocytes adhering firmly to the infected cell sheet. The immune adherence hemadsorption test proved a specific and rapid diagnostic procedure for the detection of adenovirus group antigen in tissue cultures and was more simple than conventional tests.