[A new rapid method for indication of tick-borne encephalitis viral antigen]

A coagglutinizing reagent has been designed, which makes it possible to make a rapid diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis in the coagglutination test within 2-5 minutes. Laboratory tests of the agent have shown that the coagglutination test is sensitive and specific (it is many times more sensitive than indirect hemagglutination test and 2-4 times more sensitive than enzyme immunoassay). The trials conducted on natural and clinical materials also have confirmed the sensitivity and specificity of this method. The complex use of the coagglutination test and enzyme immunoassay to examine ticks whether they contain tick-borne encephalitis viral antigen allows their diagnostic effectiveness to be enhanced by 2.4 times. The clinical trial has indicated that the coagglutination test may be useful in detecting the antigen of tick-borne encephalitis virus in the blood of infected and sick patients in acute and chronic forms.