Detection and quantitation of rotavirus using monoclonal antibody coupled red blood cells: comparison with ELISA.

A total of 125 faecal extracts from infants were tested by reverse passive haemagglutination (RPH) using red cells coated with a monoclonal antibody against the major group-specific rotavirus antigen (VP 6). Results were compared with those obtained using a rabbit anti-rotavirus capture, guinea pig anti-rotavirus detector-based ELISA. The specificity of the assay was confirmed by use of 'normal' immunoglobulin coupled red cells and by inhibition with rabbit antiserum. The antibody-coated red cells could be stabilised by treatment with glutaraldehyde and subsequent freeze-drying with no detectable loss of activity even after storage at 45 degrees C for 4 wk. Good correlation was obtained between RPH and ELISA. Purified bovine rotavirus could be detected by RPH down to approximately 10(5) particles in a 25 microliters vol. Similar results were obtained with polyclonal antibody coupled cells and an ELISA using monoclonal antibody. Experiments using subgroup-specific monoclonal antibodies indicated the feasibility of rapid subgroup determination.