Radionuclide detection of occult infection: current strategies.

A number of new radionuclide techniques are available for diagnosing infection. These include the radiolabeling of neutrophils and lymphocytes with a variety of chelating agents and isotopes, and the use of antibodies directed against bacteria in the inflammatory exudate. Other new techniques include radiolabeled nanocolloids, chemotactic peptides, and liposomes. This article reviews the evolving role of these techniques in the detection of sites of occult infection.