We used solid phase indirect hemadsorption assay (SPIHA) to detect specific IgM antibodies in specimens from cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid and ascitic fluid in patients with tuberculosis and compared with the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). The result showed that detection of tuberculous specific IgM antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid by SPIHA is important for diagnosing the tuberculous meningitis.