Monoclonal antibodies for rapid, strain-specific identification of influenza virus isolates.

Monoclonal antibodies conjugated with fluorescein permitted rapid, strain-specific identification of influenza A isolates and type-specific identification of influenza B isolates by direct immunofluorescence staining. Identification of H1 influenza A strains could be accomplished by direct immunofluorescence on cell culture fluids lacking sufficient hemagglutinin activity to permit identification by hemagglutination inhibition.