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Abstract
Cellular deposits from 104 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens showing the features of lymphocytic meningitis were subjected to fluorescent antibody tests to detect mumps antigen employing commercial reagents. By customary clinical and virological methods, mumps infection was demonstrated in 25 cases, suspected in 7 more, and was not implicated in 72. Four fluorescent antibody procedures were employed. Genuine positive results were obtained up to the 9th day of illness. All 4 tests gave a positive result in 16/21 (76%) mumps meningitis, and a false negative rate of 5/21 (24%). Among suspected mumps cases, 5/7 were positive with all 4 tests. An apparent false positive incidence of 16/66 (24%) was found among cases with other aetiologies. With continued improvement in the quality of commercial antisera for fluorescent antibody procedures together with further experience with these methods, the rate of false results could probably be reduced.