Comparison of the erythroimmunoadsorption by capture, immunoenzymatic and passive haemagglutination tests used in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis

Abstract

Comparisons were made among the erythroimmunoadsorption by capture (C-EIA), the immunoenzymatic (ELISA) and passive haemaglutination (P.H.A.) tests used in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. The three tests, two of them routine by in diagnosis, and the third one (C-EIA) recently, standardised were compared for the detection of anti-Cysticercus cellulosae antibodies. In the three reactions the antigen utilized was raw saline extract (R.S.E) with a yield of 0.1, 1 and 10 µg protein/cavity for the C-EIA, ELISA and P.H.A tests, respectively. In a group of 58 patients with neurocysticercosis, the sensitivity to the ELISA, C-EIA and P.H.A tests was of 98.2%, 84.5% and 77,2%, respectively. In the control group of 85 individuals, healthy or with encephalopathies other than neurocysticercosis, the sensitivity was of 98.27%, 84.48% and 79.63%, respectively, and the specificity was of 94.1%, 95.3% and 91.8%. This order of choice should be followed, depending on the resources available.