Rapid diagnosis of tick - borne encephalitis by immunofluorescence assay of specific serum IgM antibodies

Abstract

The indirect IF technique, using suspensions of TBE virus infected and uninfected PS cells as antigen-containing substrate, furnishes a rapid and practical test making possible the detection of specific IgM class serum antibodies in the initial stage of clinically manifest TBE. It enables early confirmation of diagnosis already in the acute phase of the disease and thus it can be instrumental in differential diagnosis and rational therapy, e.g., the administration of specific hyperimmune gamma-globulin.