DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOUS MENINGITIS BY ELISA TEST

Detection of IgG antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 Ra antig en in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), by ELISA test appears to be highly se nsitive. In 90 per cent (18/20) of proven cases of tuberculous meningi tis (TBM), antibodies were present in CSF; in 75 per cent (15/20) anti bodies were also present in the sera. In the patients clinically suspe cted to have TBM, antibodies in CSF and sera were present in 87.5 per cent (42/48) and 70.8 per cent (34/48) respectively, whereas in the co ntrol group antibodies were present in only one serum sample and in no ne of the CSF samples. The results indicate that ELISA test using soni cated M. tuberculosis H37 Ra as antigen is a sensitive and specific te st for diagnosis of TBM.