Effect of acetone fixation on infectivity and antigenicity of respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus in the fluorescent antibody test.

An investigation was made on the effect of acetone fixation on infectivity and immunofluorescent antigenicity of respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus type 5, lipid- and nonlipid-containing viruses, respectively. Viruses were allowed to replicate in HEp-2 cells, and the cells were then fixed in acetone at 5 C for periods ranging from 30 s to 7 days. Treatment for 10 min was sufficient to inactivate respiratory syncytial virus, whereas infectious adenovirus type 5 could be isolated from cells immersed in acetone for 7 days. There was a gradual reduction, to 50% of that observed at 30 s, in the intensity of fluorescent antibody staining of both viruses with increasing fixation time, but no significant decreases in fluorescent antibody end-point titers of antisera to either virus were observed.