Immunoelectroosmophoresis in the diagnosis of meningococcal infections.

Specimens of cerebrospinal fluid and serum from 22 cases of meningococcal infection were examined by immunoelectroosmophoresis and the results compared with those obtained by microscopy and culture. The results were the same except that three of 10 cases of group B infection were not diagnosed by immunoelectroosmophoresis and two of 10 cases of group C infection were not diagnosed by culture. The sensitivity of the method depends on the potency of the antiserum used and antisera from commercial sources were satisfactory except for those prepared against group B meningococci. The method may be more sensitive than microscopy and culture under certain conditions, in particular, where the patient has already begun antibiotic treatment, where the specimens have become contaminated and, where the infecting organism is either a group A or group C meningococcus.