Enzyme-linked immuno-assay for the detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis specific IgG antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid in cases of tuberculous meningitis.

The efficacy of enzyme-linked immuno-assay in the detection of IgG antibody against mycobacterium tuberculosis in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients suffering from tuberculous meningitis was measured in 50 children consecutively admitted to hospital. The controls were 15 cases of tuberculosis other than of the central nervous system; 24 cases of pyogenic meningitis; 19 cases of neurologic problems but with essentially normal cerebrospinal fluid. The specificity of the test ranged from 93 to 100 per cent and the sensitivity from 82 to 95 per cent.