Rapid test for detection of rabies antibodies in human serum.

A simple, sensitive, rapid method based on the principle of immunoadherence hemagglutination (IAHA) has been devised for the detection of rabies antibody. In this test, fixation of complement to complexes of rabies antigen with specific antibodies is readily detected by agglutination of human erythrocytes bearing receptors for C3. Sera from individuals undergoing preexposure rabies immunization were tested for rabies antibodies by the IAHA method and by a virus neutralization test performed in tissue culture, the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test. IAHA titers showed a high degree of correlation with rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test titers, although it is not known whether results of the IAHA test represent the detection of neutralizing antibodies. An advantage of the IAHA test over the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test was that results were obtained in a shorter period of time. In some instances, this can be of clinical significance in determining antibody levels to rabies virus. Furthermore, the IAHA test is most applicable as a rapid screening tool for the detection and quantitation of rabies antibodies in vaccinated subjects.