COMPARISON OF A MICRO—AGGLUTINATION TEST AND THE INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE TEST FOR LEGIONELLA ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS

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Abstract
A microagglutination (MA) test for antibodies to 10 different Legionella antigens was compared with the indirect immunofluorescence (IF) test. The antigens used were prepared from L. pneumophila serogroups (SG) 1-6, L. micdadei, L. bozemanii, L. dumoffii and L. gormanii. Sera from 728 patients suspected of suffering from Legionella pneumonia were investigated by both tests. Patients (35) showed a significant rise in IF titer to .gtoreq. 128, and 43 had single or static titers of .gtoreq. 256, while the remaining 150 had negative IF titers. The results of the comparison indicate that the MA test offers at least the same sensitivity as the IF test in demonstrating diagnostic titers rises. It may be used as a screening test for selection of sera for further analysis by the IF test. In contrasy to the IF test, MA is simple and inexpensive.