Comparison of Binax Legionella Urinary Antigen EIA kit with Binax RIA Urinary Antigen kit for detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen

Abstract

The Legionella Urinary Antigen EIA kit (Binax, Portland, Maine) was compared with the EQUATE RIA Legionella Urinary Antigen kit (Binax) for its ability to detect the presence of urinary antigens to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Urine specimens from patients without Legionnaires' disease (n = 33) were negative by both methods (specificity, 100%). Twenty (77%) of 26 urine specimens from patients with Legionnaires' disease positive by the radioimmunoassay kit were also positive by the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit. If the cutoff for a positive EIA result were lowered to a ration of > or = 2.5, 23 of 26 (88%) urine specimens would have been positive by EIA and the specificity would remain 100%. Use of the EIA kit is an acceptable method for detecting L. pneumophila serogroup 1 urinary antigens by laboratories that do not want to handle radioactive materials.