[Antigen detection for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis using the latex agglutination test].

In this study, etiologic agents were investigated by using routine and latex agglutination test (LA) methods, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples taken from 31 patients who were admitted to various Clinics of Ankara Numune Hospital with suspected meningitis. In the culture tests of 31 purulent CSF samples, 6 positive (19.4%) and 25 negative results were obtained. In 13 cases (41.9%) etiologic agents were observed by means of the gram-stained smear of the CSF sediments. LA test was applied to 25 purulent CSF samples of which culture test results were negative. By this method, in 19 cases (76%) positive and in 5 cases (20%) negative results were obtained. Non-specific reaction was only observed in one case (4%).