Early testing of cell cultures for detection of hemadsorbing viruses

Hemadsorption of primary monkey kidney cell cultures was commenced at 1 day after inoculation to evaluate how rapidly influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, and 3 could be detected by this method from respiratory specimens. Overall, 38% of all isolates could be detected within 24 h of inoculation, and 69% could be detected within 48 h. All influenza A viruses and all but one influenza B virus were detected by day 3.