Clinical Observations on the Latex Fixation Test

Abstract

The latex fixation test gave positive results in 49 per cent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Two groups, composed of 95 patients with positive responses and 97 patients with negative responses, were studied to determine the relationship between the test results and the degree of dilution, duration of the disease, age of the patient, functional capacity and stage of the disease, and criteria of the American Rheumatism Association. The vast majority of positive responses occurred in patients with “definite” disease. Most negative responses occurred in patients with less advanced disease. Duration of disease was an important factor in the positive test results.