Latex agglutination for rapid detection of Pseudomonas pseudomallei antigen in urine of patients with melioidosis.
A latex agglutination test for the detection of Pseudomonas pseudomallei antigen in urine was evaluated for the rapid diagnosis of melioidosis. With unconcentrated urine, antigen was detected in only 18% of patients with melioidosis overall. However, when urine was concentrated 100-fold, antigen was detected in 47% overall and in 67% of patients with septicaemia or disseminated infection, in whom a rapid diagnosis is most important. The specificity of the test was 100%. These results compared favourably with an enzyme immunoassay. This latex agglutination test is a simple, rapid and highly specific method of diagnosing melioidosis, and will be particularly useful in areas with limited laboratory facilities.
Smith
M D
MD
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Wuthiekanun
V
V
Walsh
A L
AL
Teerawattanasook
N
N
Desakorn
V
V
Suputtamongkol
Y
Y
Pitt
T L
TL
White
N J
NJ
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000652:urine*; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial