The use of a continuous cell line for the isolation of influenza viruses

Cultures of MDCK cells exposed to trypsin were as efficient as cultures of rhesus monkey kidney cells for detecting influenza virus, both in dilutions of infected allantoic fluids and in nose and throat swabs. We suggest that the MDCK cell/trypsin system provides a satisfactory alternative to monkey kidney cultures for the isolation of influenza viruses from clinical specimens.