Reduction of nonspecific fluorescence in respiratory specimens by pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine

Abstract

Treatment of nasopharyngeal specimens with 0.25% N-acetylcysteine for 20 min at room temperature effectively reduced the nonspecific fluorescence encountered during direct examination of the specimens by immunofluorescence. The treatment did not affect specific antigen staining or the viability of several common respiratory viruses.