Effect of serum sample inactivation on the performance of latex agglutination test for paracoccidioidomycosis serodiagnosis.
Paracoccidioidomycosis is diagnosed from the direct observation of the causative agent, but serology can facilitate and decrease the time required for diagnosis. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of serum sample inactivation on the performance of the latex agglutination test (LAT) for detecting antibodies against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The sensitivity of LAT from inactivated or non-inactivated samples was 73% and 83%, respectively and the LAT selectivity was 79% and 90%, respectively. The LAT evaluated here was no more specific than the double-immunodiffusion assay. We suggest the investigation of other methods for improving the LAT, such as the use of deglycosylated antigen.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
Fabíola
F
Silveira-Gomes
Silvia Helena
SH
Marques-da-Silva
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010228:Paracoccidioides / Q000276:immunology*; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal