Diagnosis of leptospirosis--role of MAT.

We read the article by Dutta et al on “Leptospirosis An Overview” with interest.1 The problem in utilizing microscopic agglutination test (MAT) has been highlighted and we shall discuss briefly the current status of MAT. MAT is considered the gold standard test for diagnosis of leptospirosis. It has unsurpassed specificity, but its sensitivity is low compared to ELISA/SAT (Slide agglutination test). Angelo P Brendo et al from Brazil in their study of 108 cases of leptospirosis have stated that 65% of first sample where positive by SAT compared to 44% by MAT.2