[Radial hemolysis reaction in the diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis].

A test of radial hemolysis in gel (RHG) has been developed and first used for serodiagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). In examinations of 464 blood serum specimens from 258 patients with TBE and subjects suspected of this disease in RHG and HI tests the diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis was confirmed in 77 subjects, the results of both tests being in complete agreement. A comparative analysis of antibody levels by RHG and HI tests revealed a complete correlation. An advantage of RHG over HI test is its insensitivity to serum inhibitors and the possibility of quantitation of antibodies in whole sera which omits a complicated procedure of serum treatment to remove inhibitors and serum titrations in serial dilutions mandatory for HI tests. The specificity and sensitivity of RHG, simplicity in running and the possibility of analysing many sera within a short time recommend the RHG test for public health practice for TBE serodiagnosis.