Latex-Rickettsia rickettsii test reactivity in seropositive patients

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Abstract
In correlating results obtained from a new latex-R. rickettsii test with results obtained from a reference microimmunofluorescence test for Rocky Mountain spotted fever, microimmunofluorescence titer (up to 4096) for seropositive patients was usually double the median titer obtained by the latex-R. rickettsii test. The pattern of immunoserological ersponse indicated that latex-R. rickettsii is reactive with sera containing anti-R. rickettsii IgM, IgG or both. The agglutination efficiency of the new test was greater when the anti-rickettsial IgM/IgG ratio was .gtoreq. 1. Sera from late-convalescent patients were generally minimally reactive or nonreactive in the latex-R. rickettsii test unless anti-R. rickettsii IgM was present.