A simple method for immunofluorescence staining of tracheal organ cultures for the rapid identification of infectious bronchitis virus.

A method is described for the simple application of immunofluorescence (IF) staining for the identification of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in tracheal organ cultures (TOC). It involves the application of antiserum and fluorescent antiglobulin to unfixed TOC. In TOC inoculated with high titres of virus, specific fluorescence was observed in less than 24 h. IF staining almost always occurred before ciliostasis. Following experimental infection of chicks with IBV, virus could sometimes be detected in material from tracheal or cloacal swabs within 24 h of inoculation of TOC.