Techniques and Interpretations in the Serological Diagnosis of Brucellosis in Man

The technical details of four tests recommended for the diagnosis of acute and chronic brucellosis are described. They are the standard agglutination, mercaptoethanol, anti-human globulin and complement fixation tests. These tests may be used to differentiate between IgM and IgG antibodies, the relative amounts of which give an indication of the current stage of the disease. A diagnosis of brucellosis can be made with certainty only if IgG is present. However, it must be remembered that the presence of IgG antibody may not necessarily signify active infection, but may be due to constant exposure to brucellae, as with veterinary surgeons.