MATHAI, ARADHAKRISHNAN, VVTHOMAS, M2012-12-042012-12-041991EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 10; 5; 440-443http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01968025https://dspace.sctimst.ac.in/handle/123456789/966A simple dot enzyme immunoassay (Dot-EIA) was carried out to detect antibody to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 40 patients with a clinical diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). The assay gave a positive reaction in all ten patients with culture proven TBM. In 30 culture negative patients with TBM, the assay was positive at a titre of 1:16 in 18 patients. In 40 patients with non-tuberculous neurological diseases (control group) the assay was negative at a titre of 1:16. The Dot-EIA had an overall sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 100% in the diagnosis of TBM. This assay could be used as a rapid screening test to establish the diagnosis of TBM, particularly in patients in whom bacteriological investigations for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in CSF specimens are negative.Immunology