Automated imaging and analysis of the hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI)

A method for determining functional binding activity of an antibody, comprising:

• (a) preparing a sample consisting of an agglutinating factor and said antibody in at least one well of a plate comprising an array of test wells;
• (b) adding a target object to said sample of (a) under conditions permitting agglutination of said target object by said agglutinating factor;
• (c) preparing an image of said sample of (b) with said target object added using a system comprising:
• (i) an optical path, the optical path comprising:
• a camera,
• a lens, and
• a mirror;
• (ii) a rotating table comprising a plurality of plate holding stations and a table motor for rotating the rotating table to move any of the plate holding stations into alignment with the optical path, each plate holding station of the plurality of plate holding stations comprising:
• a plate holder for holding a plate comprising an array of test wells, and
• a tilt motor for adjusting a tilt angle of the plate holder;
• and
• (iii) a controller for controlling the table motor, the tilt motor, and the camera to acquire at least one image of at least one plate, wherein the plate comprising the sample in the at least one well is disposed in the plate holder;
• and
• (d) processing said image in a programmed processing device to determine agglutination of said target object and thereby determining functional binding activity of the antibody.