Comparison of indirect immunofluorescence and western blot method in the diagnosis of hantavirus infections

Figure 3 Western blot analysis of Puumala and Dobrava- infected patients. The test strips were coated with the affinity purified nucleocapsid Puumala (PUUV); Dobrava (DOBV) and Hantaan (HTNV) antigen. A correctly performed test for immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies against hantavirus antigens is indicated by a positive reaction of the control band and the IgG band. Some samples (strips 1, 3, 5, 6, 8-10) cross-reacted with other hantaviruses, however, based on signal intensity, a very strong band to the homologous virus antigen was detected compared to a very weak/weak band of the related hantavirus antigens.