The rose bengal plate test in human brucellosis.

In Machakos Hospital, Kenya, the sera of 452 patients suspected of brucellosis were examined with the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), the complement fixation test (CFT) and the tube serum agglutination test (SAT). The percentage of false positive findings on the RBPT was 0.22% when compared with the SAT, 0.44% with the CFT. The percentage of false negative findings on the RBPT was 3% when compared with the SAT, 0.88% with the CFT. A good correlation between the RBPT and both the SAT and the CFT was also found by Morgan et al. (1969). The RBPT may be considered as a highly reliable test in the diagnosis of human brucellosis. The test is especially valuable in areas where laboratory facilities are not available and can be used as a screening test in areas with good laboratory facilities.