Complement fixation antibody test for human nocardiosis

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Abstract
Complement-fixing antibody was detected in 13 of 16 patients with histological and/or culture evidence of infection with Nocardia spp. The antigen used was a filtrate of soluble substances secreted into liquid growth medium by cultures of N. asteroides. Apparent false positive reactions were found in 3 of 3 patients with leprosy and 2 of 5 patients with tuberculosis.sbd.results similar to some previously reported methods. N. asteroides and mycobacteria share antigens. Only the false positives with tuberculosis are considered a diagnostic problem. No reactions were obtained with sera from 26 patients with other infections and 41 uninfected individuals. Whereas previous nocardia serodiagnostic methods have a sensitivity of approximately 50%, out overall sensitivity (81%) compares favorably and included 9 of 11 positive tests in immunocompromised nocardiosis patients (a source of false negative reactions with previous methods).