Abstract
Summary and Conclusions
1. Zephiran and merthiolate 1:10,000 and sodium sulfathiazole 1:500 in normal rabbit serum had no virucidal effect upon Western equine and St. Louis encephalitis viruses as determined through serial virus dilutions under the holding conditions and dilution of a standard neutralization test.
2. Mercuric cyanide 1:10,000 and phenyl mercuric borate 1:50,000 in serum under closely comparable conditions did not affect either of the above viruses or the Lansing mouse-adapted poliomyelitis virus.
3. Phenyl mercuric borate 1:50,000 has been used over a period of one year in over 1,000 serum specimens which have been subjected to diagnostic tests. There has been no apparent interference. Many of these sera have been used repeatedly in neutralization tests against several neurotropic viruses and in experimental in vitro tests including mumps complement fixation tests. This agent has greatly reduced difficulties previously encountered due to contamination of sera during collection and routine handling.
Phenyl mercuric borate is therefore recommended for routine use as a bacteriostatic agent for serum specimens to be used in in vivo diagnostic tests for the neurotropic viruses. Further experimental trial is required before it can be recommended for all types of in vitro tests.
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