Improved sensitivity for detection of tuberculosis cases by a modified Anda-TB ELISA test.

Tuberculosis is still a major health problem in most developing countries and its incidence is rising in many industrial countries. The diagnosis of tuberculosis depends primarily on identification of mycobacteria and on clinicoradiological evidence of the disease. Compared to other diagnostic methods, serological tests are faster and do not necessarily require samples that contain the tubercle bacilli. We have evaluated a modified version of a commercially available enzyme immunoassay test to detect the presence of circulating anti-mycobacterial IgG and IgM antibodies in tuberculosis patients. The sensitivity and the specificity of the test reaches 87% and 95% respectively. In conclusion, the modified Anda-TB enzyme immunoassay test offers a good and reliable test for diagnosis of tuberculosis in suspected cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis.