A modified slide latex screening test for hydatid disease.

A 2 min slide latex agglutination test is evaluated for the diagnosis of hydatid disease. Methods of preparation of the latex antigen and technique for performing the test are outlined. Results obtained in an evaluation of 221 sera containing 23 sera from clinical proven cases of hydatid disease which were positive by serologic tests and sera from other helminth, protozoan, bacterial, and viral diseases indicated 100% sensitivity in detecting antibodies in the positive hydatid sera and 97% specificity with the other sera. Only six sera of 198 from individuals with diseases other than hydatid disease reacted in the latex test. In another series of 60 sera the sensitivity of the latex test in detecting proven hydatid cases was 93%. Good correlation was obtained with the hemagglutination and flocculation tests.