A new virus is discovered that causes cells to lyse. Which of the following types of assay would be useful for diagnosing infection with this virus?
A) agglutination
B) complement fixation test
C) viral hemagglutination
D) both agglutination and complement fixation tests
E) viral neutralization

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best choice for diagnosing infection with a virus that causes cells to lyse is viral neutralization. This assay measures the ability of antibodies in a patient's serum to neutralize the virus and prevent it from causing cell lysis. Agglutination and complement fixation tests are not useful for diagnosing infections with viruses that cause cell lysis, as they detect different mechanisms of immune response. Viral hemagglutination is a specific type of agglutination assay that is used to detect viruses that agglutinate red blood cells, and is not relevant for diagnosing infections with viruses that cause cell lysis.

A New Virus Is Discovered That Causes Cells to Lyse