Detection of Antibodies Directed Towards Japanese Encephalitis Virus by PRNT
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Reference Details
Serological detection of neutralizing antibodies directed towards Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus by Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT).
- Japanese encephalitis
Serum. Minimum volume of 250 ml required.
Collect blood in serum separator tubes.
Store samples refrigerated until shipped for testing. Ship samples on cold pack, or with wet or dry ice.
Shipping of specimens shall be done by a TDG certified individual in accordance with TDG regulations. For additional information regarding classification of specimens for the purposes of shipping, consult either Part 2 Appendix 3 of the TDG Regulations or section 3.6.2 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as applicable.
Suspected Japanese encephalitis virus infection and relevant travel history.
Completed Viral Zoonoses requisition including sender laboratory name, address and telephone number. Patient name and / or identifier (specimen reference number), date of birth, test(s) requested, collection date of specimen, date of on-set of symptoms, and clinical and travel history of patient.
This is not a routine test. Please contact the Viral Zoonoses Diagnostic Laboratory before sending specimens. Initial screening serology such as JE virus ELISA or JE virus IFA must be reactive before samples will be considered for PRNT diagnostics.
Antibodies directed towards members of the JE serocomplex viruses (Dengue, Saint Louis Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, etc.) can cross react significantly in some serological assays. The PRNT is a more specific assay and can be used to document the presence of serum antibodies specific for a particular flavivirus. Serum samples are incubated with virus and if viral neutralizing antibodies are present, they will bind to the dengue virus and prevent viral infection of cultural cells, and hence a reduction in the number of plaques detected. The neutralizing titre of a sample is expressed as the reciprocal of the serum dilution at which there is a 90% reduction in the number of plaques detected. If the patient has experienced more than one flavivirus infection, cross reactive results may yield uninterpretable results with this assay despite increased specificity.
14 calendar days after the completion of JE virus IFA or JE virus ELISA testing.
- WHO. 2007. Guidelines for plaque reduction neutralization testing of human antibodies to dengue viruses