1 Section on Infectious Diseases, Perinatal Research Branch, National Institute of Neurological, Diseases and Stroke, Building 36, Room 5D04, Bethesda, Maryland 20014
A double-diffusion gel precipitation test is described which provides an easy, rapid, and reliable procedure for assistance in the diagnosis of subacute sclerosing penencephalitis by detecting measles antibody in concentrated cerebrospinal fluid. The test is based on the precipitation of rubeola antibodies with a high titered SSPE measles-virus antigen. The sensitivity of the test is comparable to the sensitivity of rubeola complement-fixation and hemagglutination-inhibition determinations on unconcentrated spiral fluid. The method could be available to hospitals or institutions if the antigen were prepared commercially or by a national center.