This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Noble, J. Articles by Loggins, M. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Noble, J., Jr. Articles by Loggins, M. S. Agricola Articles by Noble, J. Articles by Loggins, M. S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1970 May; 19(5): 855-861
Copyright © 1970 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Accuracy of Smallpox Diagnosis by Immunfluorescence with a Purified Conjugate

National Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30333

ABSTRACT

A direct fluorescent-antibody test for smallpox is described which utilizes a conjugated antivaccinia serum that was purified by diethylaminoethyl fractionation. The purity of the conjugate was analyzed by density gradient centrifugation, and specific staining of smallpox and nonsmallpox specimens was measured quantitatively by a photovoltmeter. Variola elementary bodies were identified in all of the specimens of vesicular and pustular fluid collected from 50 smallpox patients, and no false-positive diagnoses were made on specimens from 27 patients with varicella or other nonpox viral exanthems. However, 63.8% of the specimens of vesicular and pustular fluid smeared on slides in the field were unusable because of bright nonspecific fluorescence. For this reason, the fluorescent-antibody test does not compare favorably with other routine laboratory tests for smallpox.