The assay of influenza virus structural antigens in vaccines by rocket immunoelectrophoresis

The internally situated influenza virus structural antigens (matrix and nucleoprotein) and the glycoprotein hemagglutinin were assayed using rocket immunoelectrophoresis or single radial diffusion following disruption of purified virus with 1% w/v sodium sarcosyl detergent. Electrophoresis was carried out for 1-4 h in 0.05 M barbitone buffer at pH 8.6. The potency estimations of HA and M activity were similar for the two methods for bivalent beta-propiolactone inactivated whole virus vaccines.