Counter immunoelectrophoresis technique in laboratory diagnosis of bacterial meningitis

Abstract

Fifty cerebrospinal fluid specimens were studied by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), Gram's staining and culture techniques. Out of 33 test cases of pneumococcal, meningococcal and Haemophilus influenzae meningitides, 31 cases, were CIE positive, 24 were detected by Gram's staining while 27 were positive by culture. The 17 cases which served as controls did not give false positive results. The CIE is recommeded as an adjunct to bacterial culture in laboratory diagnosis of bacterial meningitis especially in areas where there is poor control of drug usage by people with resultant self antibiotic medication which makes definite bacterial meningitis specimens "sterile" on culture.