II. Indications

  1. Rarely used now (See CSF PCR which is preferred)
  2. Suspected Bacterial Meningitis with negative tests

III. Advantages

  1. Results available in 20 minutes

IV. Efficacy

  1. Test Specificity: High
  2. Test Sensitivity: Low overall (does not rule-out Bacterial Meningitis)
    1. HaemophilusInfluenzae Type B: 60-100%
    2. Low sensitivity for Neisseria Meningitidis
    3. Low sensitivity in most other Bacterial Meningitis

V. Preparations: Antigens tested

VI. References

  1. Kooiker in Roberts (1998) Procedures in ER, p. 1067-75
  2. Ravel (1995) Lab Medicine, Mosby, p. 294-9
  3. Tunkel in Mandell (2000) Infectious Disease, p. 974-8
  4. Seehusen (2003) Am Fam Physician 68:1103-8 [PubMed]

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