Comparison of ELISA and STA tests in diagnosis of Brucellosis

Brucellosis is still a major health concern worldwide. The aim of the present study was to compare sensitivity and specificity of the STA (Standard Tube Agglutination) test and IgG ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) in diagnosis and follow up of the brucellosis. A total of 80 patients were studied. STA test materials were prepared by Razi Institute (Tehran, Iran), while IgG ELISA kit were manufactured by GmbH (IBL, Germany). Meanwhile, blood culture and liver function tests were requested for all patients. Totally, 26 cases were positive in both STA and ELISA evaluation, of whom 8 cases showed high titers in both tests. ELISA was demonstrated to be more sensitive when compared with STA. Although STA is a widely applied test, it cannot differentiate acute and chronic states of brucellosis. Our data suggest that IgG ELISA may be a suitable test for diagnosis and follow up of brucellosis.