Optimum conditions for the radioimmunoprecipitation assay for the major internal protein of bovine leukemia virus.

The sensitivity of the radioimmunoprecipitation assay for the major internal protein (p24) of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was examined. Conditions were varied for the assay by 1) using larger amounts of serum and 2) increasing the amount of second antibody. Sensitivity for the p24 radioimmunoprecipitation test was greatest when 10 microliter of test serum and 200 microliter of rabbit anti-bovine IgG were used. Under these conditions there were no discrepancies between the p24 radioimmunoprecipitation test and the radioimmunoprecipitation test for the surface glycoprotein (gp51) in 380 cattle from commercial dairy herds.