Single serum samples were from 66 patients with clinically suspected leptospirosis or from "at risk" occupations or activities, for example persons in industries associated with animal contact and agricultural workers [17 ]. These sera were tested by combinations of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and a commercially available anti-IgM ELISA (Pan Bio Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia). Blood culture was conducted using 2–5 drops of whole blood placed into Ellinghausen McCullough Johnson Harris medium (EMJH) solidified with 1.5% agarose and incubated at 37°C for up to seven weeks.
Patient serum samples tested by MAT had a starting dilution of 1:50 and a diagnostic result (indicative of current infection) declared where there was a fourfold change of titre between acute and convalescent sera or a titre of 400 or greater was found with a single specimen. A positive ELISA was confirmed by the MAT [2 ].
All serum samples were subjected to PCR. Fifty-two of the serum samples were subjected to ELISA and 40 of the patients had blood culture requested by a clinician. Forty-nine of the samples were subjected to MAT where there was sufficient serum and/or a positive ELISA result.
Patient serum samples tested by MAT had a starting dilution of 1:50 and a diagnostic result (indicative of current infection) declared where there was a fourfold change of titre between acute and convalescent sera or a titre of 400 or greater was found with a single specimen. A positive ELISA was confirmed by the MAT [2 ].
All serum samples were subjected to PCR. Fifty-two of the serum samples were subjected to ELISA and 40 of the patients had blood culture requested by a clinician. Forty-nine of the samples were subjected to MAT where there was sufficient serum and/or a positive ELISA result.
