A new prepatory method of thermically inactivated Leptospira Patoc antigen for rapid slide agglutination used as serosurvey test for human leptospiroses.

830 sera from leptospirosis-suspect patients and 133 sera from investigations were analysed by the new test--rapid slide agglutination with Patoc antigen, inactivated at 60 degrees C for 15 minutes, in parallel with two standard tests--CFT with merthiolated Patoc antigen and MAR with 17-23 live pathogenic antigens. The new serotest proved efficient for selecting the cases of disease or leptospira infection, acute or recent form, not older than 2 years, both by its sensitivity and specificity and also by its rapid and economical character. In the present paper, the technology of preparation and control of Patoc antigen, inactivated at 60 degrees C for 15 minutes, is described.