Application of an objective biological assay of human interferons to clinical specimens and a survey of a normal population.

A rapid, quantitative, and nonsubjective method of interferon assay is described, which can be readily applied to clinical specimens. Automated data acquisition and data reduction allowed a significant increase in volume per unit of time over existing methodologies. Plasma always yielded higher (usually 2:1) interferon values than did serum obtained simultaneously. Ranges of interferon levels in plasma in normal control populations are reported as well as ranges for clinical virology laboratory technicians and patients with terminal malignancies or collagen vascular diseases.