DETECTION OF ANTI-LIPOARABINOMANNAN ANTIBODIES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS

SETTING: A serological test that contributes in diagnosing tuberculosi s would aid patient management. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate MycoDot(TM), a new commercially available serological test, for the detection of immu noglobulin G antibodies to lipoarabinomannan (LAM), a glycolipid commo n to mycobacteria. DESIGN: Serum samples from 102 non-human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV)-infected patients with no previous history of tuber culosis and with suspected active pulmonary (66) and/or extra-pulmonar y (36) tuberculosis were investigated; 50 HIV-negative healthy subject s, sputum culture-negative, tuberculin skin test negative and with no history of tuberculosis, were used as controls. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION : In 28 patients with microbiologically ascertained tuberculosis 25/28 serum samples were positive, whereas the test was negative in two pat ients with renal tuberculosis and in one with pulmonary tuberculosis. The remaining 74 serum samples were negative. The follow-up of these p atients excluded a mycobacterial infection. Control subjects were nega tive. On the basis of our design, the MycoDot(TM) test, with its rapid ity and degree of sensitivity, is suitable for routine use in laborato ry diagnosis of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.