[Polyclonal immunoenzyme system for determining hantaviral antigens: assessment of specificity using monoclonal antibodies and the polymerase chain reaction].

Genus-specific monoclonal antibodies to nucleocapsid protein of Pumala virus and polymerase chain reaction were used to assess the specificity of a previously described polyclonal (based on human IgG to Pumala hantavirus) enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for detecting hantavirus antigens. Parallel testing of crude lung suspensions from wild rodents trapped in different regions of Russia for hantavirus antigens and RNA showed 100% coincidence of the results of three tests. These data indicate a high specificity of polyclonal EIA system and its efficacy for screening of natural samples.