Isolation of two antigens from the culture filtrates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and their applications in the laboratory diagnosis of the tuberculous meningitis.

Two antigens were isolated from the culture filtrates of H37Ra Mycobacterium tuberculosis by immunoabsorbent affinity chromatography, M. tuberculosis antigen 5 and immunoabsorbent affinity column-purified antigen (IAP). The potential application of these two mycobacterial antigens in the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis was evaluated by indirect enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in cerebrospinal fluid specimens. IAP antigen was more sensitive than antigen 5, although antigen 5 was more specific than IAP antigen in detecting tuberculous aetiology. Technical aspects of immunoabsorbent affinity chromatography have been highlighted in this study.