[Determination of anti-mycobacteria antibody titers by ELISA for the early diagnosis of tuberculosis].

Determination of anti-mycobacteria antibody titers by ELISA for the early diagnosis of tuberculosis was critically reviewed from methodological point of view. Especially, the method of data-handling to calculate the antibody titers from optical density values obtained by ELISA and also the method to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this test were reassessed. Determination of anti-mycobacteria antibody titer by ELISA is highly sensitive and satisfactorily specific, and far more useful than, or at least as useful as, various on-going methods for the early diagnosis of pulmonary as well as extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. This test should be included in a routine examination system for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the clinical laboratories.