| Abstract: | The comparative evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of serogroup A, C, Y meningococcal antigenic preparations obtained by different methods was carried out by means of the passive hemagglutination test. In case of group 0 (I) human red blood cells sensitized with serogroup A and C vaccinal preparations obtained by Gotschlich's method (designated as A-1 and C-1) were used. In the other case formalin-treated sheep red blood cells sensitized with group-specific polysaccharides obtained by alcohol precipitation from the cultural fluid of group A, C and Y meningococci with subsequent heating (designated as A-2, C-2, Y) were used. Titrations with commercial immune rabbit sera showed that both variants of the antigenic preparations were similar in their specificity and sensitivity. In patients with the symptoms of meningitis the diagnostic titer was 1:40 for preparations A-1, C-1 and 1:80 for preparations A-2, C-2 and Y. The results of the examination of 164 patients (220 serum specimens) demonstrated that these preparations were of equal diagnostic value. |
