Effect of Antigen variability for AIV antibody detection

Since its inception in 1941, HI test has been subjected to variety of procedural modifications, however due to use of stable viruses in HI test much information has not been generated regarding the effect of antigenic variation on the sensitivity of HI test. With current situation of increased serosurveillance activities against HPAI all over the world, there is acute shortage of reliable antigen and antisera for conducting HI test against different avian influenza viruses. It has, therefore, become significant to identify a reliable source of antigens on regular basis. While undertaking such efforts at local level, attempts are to be made to identify a particular strain of AIV to be used for antigen preparation throughout the country. The study reported here has been designed to compare various HI antigens for identifying a stable type of antigen and also for standardizing a reproducible HI protocol for carrying out harmonization in avian influenza diagnosis and serosurveillance.