Lack of sensitivity of the latex agglutination test to detect bacterial antigen in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with culture-negative meningitis.

For culture-negative meningitis, use of the latex agglutination test for detection of bacterial antigen in the CSF has a sensitivity of only 7%. Routine use of the latex agglutination test may not contribute to the management of suspected acute bacterial meningitis, since patients are treated on the basis of their clinical presentations and CSF findings.