Latex agglutination and indirect immunofluorescence tests in the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii in Saudi Arabia

J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2009 Apr;39(1):1-9.

Abstract

Commercial latex agglutination (LA) was assessed for Toxoplasma antibody screening. The sensitivity and specificity were compared with the reference standard indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). A total of 186 sera were collected from May 2008-October 2008 for Toxoplasma antibody by LA & IFA. Antibody to T. gondii 51/186 (27.4%) were LA-positive and 42/186 (22.6%) were IFA-positive. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of LA were 100%, 93.7% & 82.3% respectively. The nine LA-false positive sera were examined for rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies, but were negative and none exhibited nonspecific polar staining as a cause for the false positivity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / methods*
  • Humans
  • Latex Fixation Tests
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Toxoplasma / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis / diagnosis*
  • Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis / immunology