An Agglutination-Resuspension Test for Q Fever Antibodies

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Abstract
Summary: An agglutination-resuspension (AR) test for the detection of Q fever antibodies is described. The procedure involves the use of a purified suspension of Coxiella burneti in phase I and the centrifugation and resuspension of this antigen after exposure to antiserum. Results with serums from convalescent and vaccinated human and animal subjects are presented. The AR test was shown to be more sensitive than either the complement-fixation or the capillary tube agglutination tests in the detection of low levels of antibodies but less sensitive than the radioisotope precipitation test. The AR test is more rapid than other comparable serologic tests as it can be completed and read within an hour.