title: The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency values of some serological tests used in the diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis.
abstract: This work reports on the results of double immunodiffusion (ID), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), complement fixation (CF) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) techniques in the serodiagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis. The study was undertaken on four groups of individuals: 46 patients with untreated paracoccidioidomycosis, 22 patients with other deep mycoses, 30 with other infectious diseases (tuberculosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis) and 47 blood donors as negative controls. Data were obtained using Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigens, i.e., a yeast culture filtrate for ID, CIE and CF, and a yeast cell suspension for IIF. The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency values were measured according to GALEN & GAMBINO. The gel precipitation tests (ID and CIE) showed the greatest sensitivity (91.3 and 95.6%, respectively), maximum specificity (100%) and the highest efficiency values when compared to the CF and IIF tests.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Micologia Médica, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Del Negro
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: de Aguiar
authors.forename: V de S
authors.initials: Vde S
authors.lastname: Lírio
authors.forename: C da S
authors.initials: Cda S
authors.lastname: Lacaz
mesh_terms: D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008297:Male; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests