Differential diagnostic assay for brucellosis

Abstract

An immunoassay procedure is provided which exhibits increased specificity over current procedures. The procedure allows the differentiation of animals infected with Brucella abortus from animals vaccinated with Brucella abortus Strain 19. The invention employs unique monospecific monoclonal antibodies having particular affinity, specificity and binding characteristics directed to a B. abortus lipopolysaccharide antigen. The invention also concerns continuous hybrid cell lines for producing the unique monoclonal antibodies.