Rapid detection of Haemophilus influenzae type b in cerebrospinal fluid by commercial coagglutination and latex agglutination kits.

The ability of two commercial kits to detect Haemophilus influenzae type b antigen in cerebrospinal fluid was evaluated. Results obtained by Bactogen, a latex agglutination test, and Phadebact, a coagglutination test, were compared to counterimmunoelectrophoresis, Gram stain and culture results. One hundred and seven specimens of cerebrospinal fluid were tested. Thirty were found to contain bacteria, 20 of which were Haemophilus influenzae type b. All 20 were positive by Bactogen and Phadebact testing, 19 were culture positive, 18 were positive by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and 15 had gram-negative bacilli seen on Gram stain. The culture negative specimen contained microscopically visible gram-negative bacilli and was from a patient on antimicrobial therapy who was previously Haemophilus influenzae type b culture positive. No false positives from other genera or the 77 culture negative specimens occurred with Phadebact, Bactogen or counterimmunoelectrophoresis.