Cross-reactivity of latex agglutination assay complicates the identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei from soil.

The monoclonal antibody-based latex agglutination tests targeting a high molecular weight exopolysaccharide antigen of Burkholderia pseudomallei are commercially available. The tests are primarily used in routine diagnosis of melioidosis in major hospitals in Thailand and some endemic countries. Being a rapid test, this technique was employed as a presumptive test to identify colonies of B. pseudomallei among many others grown from soil specimens collected from southern Thailand. Cross-reactivity of these tests with other soil bacteria was a concern since it complicated the identification of B. pseudomallei. Here, we describe the cross-reactivity of two commercial latex agglutination tests for melioidosis with B. territorii, B. pseudomultivorans, B. multivorans and B. cenocepacia isolates from soil.