[Evaluation of Dipstick 'Eiken' Legionella for detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 urinary antigen using the immunochromatographical method].

Dipstick 'Eiken' Legionella is a reagent for detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine using the immunochromatographical method. The reagent was evaluated using the reference and clinical isolated strains and clinical specimens. BinaxNOW Legionella and Legionella antigen [Mitsubishi] were evaluated simultaneously. Using four of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 strains, the minimal detectable concentration of Dipstick 'Eiken' Legionella was 5.0 x 10(4) to 2.0 x 10(5) colony forming unit/ml, it was approximate four times high in comparison with other two kits. And no positive reaction was obtained from 45 of non-L. pneumophila serogroup 1 strains. When Dipstick 'Eiken' Legionella was compared with BinaxNOW Legionella among 50 urine samples obtained from patients with pneumonia and 50 urine from healthy adults, the sensitivity was 94.7%, the specificity was 100.0% and the agreement was 99.0%. Dipstick 'Eiken' Legionella is found to be useful diagnostic reagent for Legionella infection in clinical laboratories.