title: Detection of mycobacterial antigens in cerebrospinal fluid by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: By use of commonly available antibodies against Mycobacterium bovis BCG, Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens can be detected by a rapid and sensitive double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA was dose-dependent and capable of detecting as little as 4 ng of antigens. Absorbance for 5 patients with confirmed tuberculous meningitis ranged from 0.150 to 0.600 with a mean value of 0.271 +/- 0.190. For 134 non-meningitis control patients and 6 treated tuberculous meningitis patients, optical densities were 0.032 +/- 0.009 and 0.029 +/- 0.010, respectively. Specificity was demonstrated by the negative results (0.028 +/- 0.006) with bacterial and cryptococcal antigens. Maximum cross-reactivity with non-tuberculous mycobacterial antigens was less than 7%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans General Hospital-Taichung, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fann
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial