The importance of coombs test in brucella

In our country and in many areas of the world Brucellosis, which is widely seen among and causes serious economic loss, is the most common zoonotic disease in the world. Serum samples of the 100 patients, which sent to the laboratory with pre-diagnosis of Brucella were examined in Gaziantep University Medicine Faculty Şahinbey Research Application Hospital. Wright and Coombs agglutination tests were performed on serum samples. The Coombs test and Blocking antibodies were investigated in patients, which are detected negative by the Wright test. Dilutions were studied on the Wright test and started at 1/20 titer to 1/2560 titer and for Coombs test was started at 1/80 titer to 1/640 titer. In the study, Wright test and Coombs test were negative in 46 (%46) of 100 patients, 11 (%11) patients of the Wright test were found positive, the Wright test was negative and Coombs test was positive in 43 (%43) patients. When biochemical parameters of the WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, CRP, ESR, ALT and AST were compared, a significant differences were observed (p=0.019) between the Coombs positive patients and negative for both of the investigations of WBC. There was a significant difference between the Wright (-) Coombs (+) and Wright (+) groups in GGT measurements (p=0.038). Toward of the obtained data the numbers of the Wright negative, Coombs positive patients were significantly higher (48.3%). In the serology of the Brucella also appears to have a high frequency of blocking antibodies that cause false negative results with STA. Due to this high rate of STA results is recommended for confirmation with other serological methods such as Coombs or ELISA. Therefore, in patients which admitted with the pre-diagnosis of the Brucella must be studied the Coombs test or studying only the Brucella Coombs test would be appropriate to avoid economic losses.