FALSE-NEGATIVE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID CRYPTOCOCCAL LATEX AGGLUTINATION TESTS FOR PATIENTS WITH CULTURE-POSITIVE CRYPTOCOCCAL MENINGITIS

Three cases of false-negative cerebrospinal fluid latex agglutination test results for patients with culture-positive cryptococcal meningiti s are reported. False-negative results occurred in settings of low cry ptococcal antigen concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid and were depen dent on the latex agglutination test kit used. Investigation of each c ase revealed that prozone phenomena or interference from bound antibod y or protein could not account for the false-negative results.