title: Rapid detection of immunoglobulin G against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens by two commercial ELISA kits.
abstract: METHODS
  Tunisia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical usefulness of the commercial Pathozyme-Myco G (Myco G) and Pathozyme TB complex plus (Patho) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for the rapid diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB) and to distinguish between active TB and non-TB pulmonary diseases in Tunisian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunoglobulin G mediated humoral immune response against mycobacterial antigens (38 kDa and lipoarabinomannan, Myco G; 16 and 38 kDa, Patho) was evaluated in a group of active TB patients (128 smear-positive pulmonary and 33 extra-pulmonary samples) and in a control group (107 patients with non-tuberculous lung disease and two with leprosy). Active TB cases were confirmed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture from clinical samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of the Myco G test was 71% in active TB (pulmonary and extra-pulmonary), while the specificity was 100%. The Patho test showed a sensitivity of 43.5% with a specificity of 96.3%. A combination of both tests showed a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 96.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both ELISA tests were simple and easy to perform. Their combined use led to an increase in the diagnostic accuracy of active TB and its discrimination from non-TB pulmonary diseases. They could therefore be used as screening tools in poorly equipped laboratories in TB-endemic regions.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, UR02SP13, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ben Selma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harizi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzouk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben Kahla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ben Lazreg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferjeni
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Harrabi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelghani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Said
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boukadida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C072681:Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens