[The detection of antibodies to the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus by immunoenzyme analysis using antigen purified in a water-polymer system].

Human and animal sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus by direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA). For the test, the plates were sensitized with a VEE virus preparation purified in a two-phase system of water-soluble polymers. The proposed EIA variant was as specific as that with VEE antigen obtained by fractionation on sucrose cushion, but more sensitive. The high specificity of the assay allowed the antigen purified in the water-polymer system to be used for investigation of antigen relationships among viruses of the VEE complex.