Adsorption of influenza viruses to nitrocellulose membrane filters by filtration and their quantitative densitometric determination.

Influenza viruses concentrated and adsorbed onto nitrocellulose membrane filters by filtration are detected rapidly and sensitively by sequential incubation with the primary antibody and the secondary antibody conjugated with peroxidase. The bound enzyme is detected by incubation with a substrate which is converted to an insoluble colored product. A dual-wavelength TLC scanner is used for densitometric quantitation. The membrane filtration-blotting enzyme immunoassay provides a method for quantitative analysis and rapid typing of influenza isolates. The method may be also applicable for quantitative detection of influenza viruses in throat swab specimens from patients, as well as in tissue culture fluids.