[Biological diagnosis of the leptospiroses: technics and interpretations]

According to the chronological data of Physio-Pathology of leptospiroses, diagnosis is: Direct: isolation of the germ in the beginning of the acute phase of the disease: blood culture, culture of cerebrospinal fluid, animal inoculation. Identification is the work of a specialized laboratory. Indirect: demonstration of antibodies. Immunological tests are divided into two groups: Screening tests, available for all laboratories: they give an indication of Leptospirosis. They are carried out during the acute phase: slide macroscopic agglutination test, hemagglutination test, complement fixation test. Confirmatory tests, performed only by specialized laboratories. Interpretation is dependent on the case history of the patient.