Monoclonal antibodies were prepared in order to an assay method for Vibrio vulnificus. Sixteen mouse ybridoma cell lines were established by immunization of whole cell antigen to BALB/c mice, fusion with SP2/O myeloma cells, and cloning. Most of them secreted IgM.lambda. antibodies. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed with rabbit anti-V. vulnificus polyclonal antibodies as capture antibody, an IgM monoclonal antibody as detector antibody, and goat anti-mouse IgM-alkaline phosphatase conjugate as developer antibody. The range of detection was 10^4 to 10^7 V. vulnificus cells per microplate well. When four related Vibrio species were tested for cross-reactions, V. parahaemolyticus showed 3.5% reactively and V. carchariae, V. fluvialis, and V. furnisii showed negligibal (<1%) cross-reactivity.