Serological techniques for the diagnosis of cysticercosis

Three techniques--an indirect haemagglutination test, a fluorescent antibody test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)--have been established for the detection of cysticercosis antibodies in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cysticercosis. Results obtained using these techniques have been compared to determine the most successful serodiagnostic method. In each test there was a marked difference between the detection of active and of calcified cysts. The results obtained using the three tests were remarkably similar, and none had a statistically significant advantage over the others with regard to the detection of cysticercosis antibodies. However, ELISA appears to have certain other advantages.