[Counterimmunoelectrophoresis on cellulose acetate membrane with a commercial lyophilized antigen in diagnosis of human hydatidosis].

A very simplified method of crossed over electrophoresis (CIEP) was employed with a lyophilized commercially produced antigen (previously submitted to several freezing and thawing) and cellulose acetate membrane, for the diagnosis of human hydatidosis. Results are as follows: active hydatidosis (surgically confirmed): number of sera tested 35; positive 32 (91%). Sera of patients with parasitic and non parasitic illnesses (especially malignancies of liver and lung) did not show any precipitin lines. The pattern of immunoprecipitation is characteristically in the form of an "upper lip" or a thick and undulating "streak". The very thin arcs of precipitation which are occurring in some control sera, are to be considered negative. These results indicate that with regard to the rule of the "three S" (specificity, sensitivity and simplicity) the method appears sufficiently satisfactory.