RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Detection of Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus by direct immunofluorescence. JF Journal of Clinical Pathology JO J Clin Pathol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists SP 1189 OP 1192 DO 10.1136/jcp.33.12.1189 VO 33 IS 12 A1 Labbé, M A1 Delamare, N A1 Pepersack, F A1 Crokaert, F A1 Yourassowsky, E YR 1980 UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/33/12/1189.abstract AB A new diagnostic kit, which contains a polyvalent antiserum for either Bacteroides fragilis or Bacteroides melaninogenicus, was tested for reliability and specificity on 146 clinical samples of different origin. A correlation between the culture and immunofluorescence was observed for B. fragilis in 87.39% of cases and for B. melaninogenicus in 81.48% of cases. When pure cultures were tested, aerobically as well as anaerobically, false-positive reactions were observed with staphylococci and Clostridium ramosum spores. The well-defined morphology of these bacteria and spores allows for the elimination of any diagnostic error. The method is rapid, and the margin for error is limited. The test gives a semiquantitative idea of the number of bacteroides organisms present in the clinical specimens even in the presence of a mixed flora.