COMPARATIVE-EVALUATION OF CRYPTOCOCCAL LATEX TESTS

One hundred and seven specimens (24 CSF and 83 sera) from 90 patients were tested for the presence of Cryptococcus neoformans antigen using the Fairfield Hospital in-house latex agglutination technique and the IMMY and Meridian commercial latex agglutination kits. Forty one speci mens (14 CSF and 27 sera) from 27 patients with culture-proven cryptoc occosis were positive by both the Fairfield and IMMY latex tests. Thir ty nine of these specimens were positive by the Meridian latex test. T wo were negative. Sixty six specimens (10 CSF and 56 sera) from 63 pat ients not known to have cryptococcosis were negative by all 3 tests.