[A modified method of latex agglutination in capillaries for the detection of meningococcal antigens]

The suggested microvariant of the latex agglutination test in glass capillaries is not inferior to the traditional latex agglutination on the glass in sensitivity and specificity. The microvariant consists in the following: glass capillaries 0.8 mm in diameter 10 cm long are filled with the pathological material (3/5 of the tube length) and with the diagnostic latex preparation (1/5 of the tube length) so that no air hole is formed between them. The time of the reaction may be prolonged to 20-30 min without deteriorating its specificity. The results are recorded using a 4+ system, similarly as with the latex agglutination on the glass. The described modification appears to be useful for practical laboratories: it saves the latex preparation 4-fold and takes 2 times less pathologic material.