title: [Comparison of results of two serological methods for diagnosing leptospirosis - microagglutination test and ELISA].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the SERION ELISA classic IgM and SERION ELISA classic IgG kits and to confirm the results by the microagglutination test (MAT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 blood serum samples from 45 patients, 30 from males and 15 from females (mean age 44.24 ± 15.56 range 19-82 year), were included in our study. Blood serum samples were examined using the ELISA and MAT methods and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of both methods were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MAT was shown to have 100 % diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The ELISA kits for detecting IgM and IgG antibodies against pathogenic leptospires had diagnostic sensitivity of 100 % and diagnostic specificity of 88.6 % and 54.3 %, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above results suggest that the MAT with diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100 % remains the gold standard for detection of specific antibodies against pathogenic leptospires. The diagnostic sensitivity of both ELISA kits is high but due to their low diagnostic specificity, especially in the case of IgG antibodies, the kits are inappropriate for use in routine clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Charles University Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. pernilla@seznam.cz
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kučerová
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cermáková
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Plíšková
authors.forename: Zdeněk
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.forename: Oto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pavliš
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kubíčková
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M