RAPID SCREENING-TEST FOR TUBERCULOSIS USING A 38-KDA ANTIGEN FROM MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS

A screening test for the diagnosis of tuberculosis by immunodot (IDt) is described, using an antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, namely, a 38-kDa glycoprotein which has shown great specificity in previous se rologic analyses. The test was used to examine 28 sera from patients w ith lung tuberculosis. Of these, 85% were positive by micro-ELISA and by the IDt test herein described. Central sera from healthy subjects ( n=20) gave negative results for ELISA and for IDt, which indicates tha t the screening test is highly specific. The test is easy to handle an d requires no equipment and is therefore particularly useful for field studies. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss. Inc.