A high percentage of serum samples that test reactive by enzyme immunoassay for anti-Brucella antibodies are not confirmed by the standard tube agglutination test.
We describe a retrospective analysis of Brucella enzyme immunoassay (EIA) IgM and IgG results compared to those of the standard tube agglutination test (SAT). Among 1,091 samples tested, 104 (9.5%) and 24 (2.2%) sera were positive by IgM and IgG EIA, respectively. Supplemental testing by SAT showed that 82.7% (86/104) of IgM EIA-reactive samples and 54.2% (13/24) of IgG EIA-reactive samples were negative by SAT. Testing all EIA screen-reactive samples by SAT is required when evaluating patients for potential brucellosis. Due to the limitations of serology, culture remains the gold standard for detecting Brucella infection.
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. binnicker.matthew@mayo.edu
Matthew J
MJ
Binnicker
Elitza S
ES
Theel
Staci M
SM
Larsen
Robin
R
Patel
D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002002:Brucella / Q000276:immunology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M