[Nitroblue tetrazolium-test and encephalitis (author's transl)]

The NBT-Test which is applied now in the differential diagnosis of viral and bacterial diseases was performed in 6 children sufferring from encephalitis. The modified technique described by Kim et al. was used. According to other reports dealing with NBT-Test in viral diseases all our patients showed normal percentages of NBT-positive cells. On the other hand a few authors report "false positive" NBT-tests in viral diseases. Therefore various factors, like stage and duration of the disease, damage of the phagocytes by toxins, influence of antibiotics, are discussed. Because of the occurrence of negative results in the early stages of bacterial meningitis the NBT-test in its present technique should not be used in differentiating bacterial meningitis from viral encephalitis.