Comparison of sputum counterimmunoelectrophoresis and culture in diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia

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Abstract
The diagnostic value of counterimmunoelectrophoresis performed on sputum was compared with that of sputum culture. The detection of pneumococcal polysaccharide in sputum showed a better correlation with the presence of pneumococcal pneumonia than the recovery of pneumococci by culture. The authors conclude that sputum counterimmunoelectrophoresis can provide diagnostic guidance to physicians awaiting the results of sputum culture and aid in the interpretation of cultural findings.