Comparison of the Binax Legionella urinary antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with the Biotest Legionella Urin antigen EIA for detection of Legionella antigen in both concentrated and nonconcentrated urine samples.

We evaluated a newly commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Biotest Legionella Urin Antigen EIA; Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany) for detection of antigens of all Legionella pneumophila serogroups with a relatively wide spectrum of cross-reactivity as well as antigens of other Legionella spp. by comparing its sensitivity and specificity with those of an EIA for detection of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen (Legionella urinary antigen EIA; Binax, Portland, Maine). Both tests were performed with both concentrated and nonconcentrated urine samples. We also evaluated the capabilities of both EIAs to detect extracted soluble antigens of American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Legionella strains (L. pneumophila serogroups 1 to 14, L. bozemanii, and L. longbeachae). The sensitivity of the Biotest EIA was 66.66% in nonconcentrated urine and 86.66% in concentrated urine. The sensitivity of the Binax EIA was 63.76% and 88.88% in nonconcentrated and concentrated urine, respectively. The specificity was 100% in nonconcentrated and concentrated urine for both assays. The Binax EIA and Biotest EIA detected extracted soluble antigens of L. pneumophila serogroups 1 to 14 and L. bozemanii ATCC strains. The cross-reactions observed with the Binax EIA were probably due to common epitopes directly related to lipopolysaccharide. Further studies are required to determine the usefulness of the Binax EIA for detection of urinary antigens from Legionella species and serogroups other than L. pneumophila serogroup 1. The Biotest EIA proved to be as rapid, sensitive, and specific as the Binax EIA for the diagnosis of legionellosis. Concentration of antigen present in urine increased the sensitivities of both techniques with no reduction in specificity.