title: Serological diagnosis of tuberculosis.
abstract: The past decade has seen dramatic developments in serological tests for tuberculosis. The long history of serological tests for tuberculosis is a testimony to the need for a sensitive diagnostic test, especially when the sputum smear is unhelpful. New reagents, both purified antigens and monoclonal antibodies, provide the means to obtain a sensitivity and specificity to rival the tuberculin skin test and equal other commonly used diagnostic blood tests. Evaluation with sera from patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis has identified one antigen (antigen 5, the 38 kDa antigen) as a potential screening reagent for infectious tuberculosis and another (16 kDa antigen) for monitoring compliance. A monoclonal antibody competition assay anti-38 kDa antibody is the most sensitive serological test for smear-negative tuberculosis so far. Tests for tuberculous meningitis need clinical evaluation. Serological tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related tuberculosis are disappointing. In general, antibody levels in primary tuberculosis are low and appear directed towards cytoplasmic antigens, whilst in post-primary disease antibody levels are higher and appear to bind to secreted antigens. No single reagent gives a 100% sensitivity; future research should identify the best combination of antigens for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Medicine, UCL Hospitals, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Bothamley
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000097:blood; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; C016603:Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5; D014373:Tuberculin