UTILIZATION OF SALIVA FOR EXAMINATION OF POSTVACCINATION AND POSTINFECTION IMMUNITY TO INFLUENZA BY ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY

Paired specimens of blood sera, upper respiratory tract secretions, and saliva from healthy, influenza-infected, and live influenza trivaccine-immunized humans were tested in parallel by HI tests and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The resulting comparative data suggest that determination by EIA of specific secretory IgA in the saliva may be recommended as an independent test for large-scale influenza diagnosis, evaluation of the immune status of people, and trials of influenza vaccines. By immunologic parameters, this method is not inferior to the standard ones. At the same time its advantages include simplicity and readily available large volumes of saliva even from children as well as no necessity to bleed subjects to be examined.