In the course of a multi-year survey of Potato virus Y (PVY) incidence and diversity in the U.S. seed potato crop, an unusual PVY variant was identified in low but significant levels in multiple states. This variant, PVY O -O5, was initially detected by a commercially available PVY N -specific monoclonal antibody, 1F5. This antibody is widely used by U.S. Seed Certification programs to test for PVY N and is one of two antibodies designated by the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) for preshipment testing of tuber lots that are to be transported between countries. Consequently, PVY N positives identified by the 1F5 antibody have triggered quarantine actions, prevented cross-border shipments and impacted trade. Here, we demonstrate by a variety of methods that the PVY O -O5 is a variant within the ordinary PVY strain (PVY O ). Specifically, the PVY O -O5 variant likely arose due to a single amino acid substitution within the capsid protein. This variant does not induce vein necrosis in tobacco or tuber necrosis in susceptible varieties of potato. Furthermore, it is identified by RT-PCR based diagnostics as PVY O and it has a typical PVY O genome sequence. We demonstrate that another PVY N specific monoclonal antibody, SASA-N, recognizes an epitope distinct from that recognized by 1F5, and correctly identifies the PVY O -O5 variants as belonging to the PVY O serotype. Since the PVY O -O5 variant is present in many seed producing states and misidentification of PVY O -O5 as PVY N/NTN has clear quarantine implications for export shipments of potato, the limitations of the commercially available monoclonal antibodies should be considered in any certification or phytosanitary testing program.Resumen A lo largo del estudio de varios años sobre la incidencia y diversidad del virus Y de la papa (PVY) en los cultivos de papa para semilla en los Estados Unidos (EU), se identificó a una variante inusual a niveles bajos pero significativos en múltiples estados. Esta variante, PVY O -O5, se detectó inicialmente con un anticuerpo monoclonal comercialmente disponible específico para PVY N , el 1F5. Este anticuerpo es ampliamente usado por los Programas de Certificación de Semilla en los EU para PVY N , y es uno de los dos anticuerpos designados por la Organización Norteamericana de Protección de Plantas (NAPPO) para pruebas de pre-envío de lotes de tubérculos que serán transportados entre países. Consecuentemente, los PVY N positivos identificados con el anticuerpo 1F5 han disparado acciones cuarentenarias, evitando envíos trans-fronteras y han impactado al comercio. Aquí, nosotros demostramos con diversos métodos que PVY O -O5 es una variante del PVY ordinario (PVY O ). Específicamente, la variante PVY O -O5 es probable que haya surgido debido a una substitución de un aminoácido dentro de la proteína de la cápside. Esta variante no induce necrosis de las venas en tabaco o necrosis del A. V. Karasev : O. V. Nikolaeva : X. Hu : Z. Sielaff : tubérculo en variedades susceptibles de papa. Aún mas, se le identifica c...