Soluble antigen fluorescent antibody test in serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The significance of the modified soluble antigen fluorescent antibody (SAFA) test in the laboratory diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis has been evaluated. The test has been established by using mycobacterial saline extract as antigen. A total of 191 serum samples were subjected to this test; of these, 126 were from cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (untreated, and at different stages of treatment, 2 were from cases of non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis), 65 from control cases including tuberculin reactors and non-reactors, patients suffering from diseases other than tuberculosis and neonatal cord blood. None of the 123 sera from tuberculous patients were negative by the SAFA test. None of the strong reactors, 2 each were from tuberculin positive and negative cases and 3 from cases suffering from chest infections other than tuberculosis.