[Serology of toxoplasmosis: review of tests currently in use for diagnosis and prevention].

Toxoplasma infection stimulates a very rich answer in circulating antibodies, which are easily detected by many serological tests. Many years elapsed since 1948, when Sabin and Feldmann [28] carried out for the first time a dye test which is, still at present, the chief reference test for the numerous techniques which have been subsequently available. The aim of the present review, which is largely based on personal experiences, is to draw some conclusions on the meaning and usefulness of these tests, and on the best way to express their results. Though a special attention has been allowed to techniques using a whole cellular antigen (dye test, immunofluorescence, direct agglutination test) some useful hints are also given on CF, IHA and ELISA, which employ an extractive antigen. A special stress is layed on the usefulness, or, rather, the need to express results, whenever possible, in IU (International Units), in order to attribute a standard comparable meaning to the tests.