Systematic Veterinary Virology

SEROLOGY

• Infections are detected by performing serological tests on paired sera to show a rise in antibody titre. Three tests that are commonly used include
• Haemagglutination inhibition test
• Single radial haemolysis: In this test, viral antigens are coupled to fixed RBCs that are suspended in agarose containing guinea-pig complement (C’). Wells are punched in the agarose and filled with test sera. Influenza antibodies and C’ lyse the antigen-coated RBCs, resulting in a clear, haemolytic zone around the well; the size of this zone is directly proportional to the level of strain-specific antibody in the serum sample
•  Complement fixation test: Not commonly used.