Patent ID: 7282341

Claim:
A method for the early detection of a flaviviral infection comprising: detecting an NS1 nonstructural glycoprotein of a flavivirus in a biological sample by an immunological method using at least two antibodies, wherein the biological sample is obtained during the clinical phase of the infection, wherein the two antibodies may be identical or different, wherein a first antibody, called a capture antibody, which is unlabeled, is either (1) a polyclonal antibody with high affinity for NS1 protein of the flavivirus in hexameric form, wherein the polyclonal antibody is preselected by immunocapture with the NS1 protein in hexameric form, or (2) a mixture of purified anti-NS1 monoclonal antibodies preselected for their high affinity for the NS1 protein of the flavivirus, wherein the NS1 protein is in hexameric form, and, wherein a second antibody, called a revelation antibody, is a polyclonal antibody directed against the NS1 protein in hexameric form or a mixture of monoclonal antibodies directed against NS1 protein in hexameric form.