A sensitive plaque inhibition technique for assay of antibodies to influenza virus: use to detect previous antigenic priming with influenza viruses.

Plaque reduction test performed in MDCK cells was found to be a more sensitive assay than hemagglutination inhibition, for revealing previous immunological experience with influenza A virus in the population. Based on the preimmunization antibody levels, determined by plaque reduction tests, it was possible to distinguish between previously primed and unprimed subjects among vaccinees.