Background and aim. Bacteriologic diagnosis
of childhood tuberculosis is difficult, and alternate
methods are needed. The utility of a serologic
test for major secretory antigen (30 kDa)
and a cytosolic antigen (16 kDa) of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis was evaluated for the diagnosis
of tuberculosis in children.
Methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
was used. Specific IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies
were measured in the sera from 26 clinically
and/or bacteriologically diagnosed cases of childhood
tuberculosis and 61 normal children.
Results. Anti-IgG antibodies alone, against
both 30- and 16-kDa antigens, were detected in
65.4% of patients. However, by combination of all
three isotypes, increased sensitivities of 84.6 and
73%, with a specificity of 96.7% each, were obtained
for 30- and 16-kDa antigens, respectively.
Conclusions. We found good specificity and
reasonably good sensitivity for detection of antibodies
by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
to 30-kDa antigen alone. The 16-kDa antigen did
not perform as well