[Use of ELISA for the detection of IgG antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the diagnosis of tuberculosis].

The presence of mycobacterial antibodies of IgG type was determined in serum, cerebrospinal fluid and pleural puncture fluid by using ELISA and soluble antigens of the strain Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. In patients suffering from tuberculosis the most frequently found titer was 1:320 and above. This titer was however found also in 30% of healthy subjects of the control group and 29% of patients with other than tuberculous disease. The sensitivity of the test was 0.7692 and its specificity 0.4594. On examining cerebrospinal fluid of patients with suspect tuberculous meningitis, positive titers of 1:640 and 1:1280 were found in two cases, while the titers of all the other patients were definitely negative. In both cases with positive titers there was also a high antibody titer in serum and additionally also culture positivity or positive biological test was evidenced. This combination of examinations allows prompt administration of antituberculous therapy in case of positivity. The results obtained in examining pleural puncture fluid and serum are open to discussion.