Early detection of influenza virus by using a fluorometric assay of infected tissue culture

Abstract

A fluorometric substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-ketoside of N-acetylneuramide, was used directly on clinical specimens and infected tissue culture 24 h after inoculation for the detection of influenza viral neuraminidase. Viral neuraminidase was detected in infected tissue culture but not in clinical specimens. The sensitivity of the assay on tissue culture was 92%, and the specificity was 96%.