Evaluation of a latex agglutination test for amoebiasis

Abstract

138 sera from adult Europeans were tested with a commercially available latex agglutination test marketed in kit form under the trade name of Serameba. They were tested at the same time by the gel diffusion precipitin (GDP), fluorescent antibody (FAT) and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) tests. 52 sera were positive by at least one test; 47 by the IHA, and 43 of these by the Serameba. Whenever the IHA had a titre above 1 : 320, the Serameba was also positive. 5 sera positive by all 4 tests were absorbed with sensitized red cells; the absorbed sera gave negative IHA and Serameba tests, but their FAT and GDP results were unaffected. It is concluded that the Serameba is slightly less sensitive but otherwise equivalent to the IHA for clinical and epidemiological work; it is much simpler to perform. Its present disadvantage of expense could be largely overcome by some simple modifications in presentation.