NEUTRALIZATION TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HUMAN VIRUS ENCEPHALITIDES

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Abstract
The virus neutralization test is important because it can be used to help determine the prevalence of a disease, the geographic dissemination of its virus, the titer of antibody in an antiserum or the principles underlying the immunologic factors of an infection. One can with known virus demonstrate its specific antibody, and one can with known antibody reveal the identity of a virus. The test is simple in application when an appreciable amount of antibody is present; the antibody is detected by adding undiluted fluid, such as blood serum, which contains suspected antibody to suspensions which contain a known amount of virus. After varying periods of contact at certain temperatures, the mixture is injected by definite routes into selected species of animals, which are then watched for virus effect (i. e., no neutralization) or for no effect whatever (i. e., neutralization). However, when the serum contains antibody sufficient to neutralize