Detection and identification of virus-specific, oligoclonal IgG in unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid by immunoblot technique.

A technique is described which allows the detection of virus-specific oligoclonal IgG in unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with virus infections of the central nervous system. CSF is isoelectrically focused in agarose gels and immunoglobulins are blotted to nitrocellulose filters, passively loaded with either anti-human IgG or viral antigen. Transferred total IgG, as well as virus-specific IgG, is identified by the use of peroxidase-labelled anti-human IgG and 4-chloro-1-naphthol as a precipitating peroxidase substrate. Application of this assay in cases of SSPE, mumps meningitis and herpes simplex encephalitis demonstrates sensitivity and possible suitability of this technique for use in diagnosis of virus infections of the CNS.