Fluorescent antibody methods in the detection and control of venereal diseases. A bibliographical review of the literature.

GONORRHOEA U.S.A. The fluorescent antibody (FA) method for the detection of gonorrhoea was first described by Deacon, Peacock, Freeman, and Harris (1959). The results of their studies were: a speciesspecific antigen associated with freshly isolated, inagglutinable gonococcal cultures was recognized; the antigen appeared to possess characteristics similar to Vi antigens of Salmonella typhi or the K antigeng of the Escherichia group and is fully developed only in freshly isolated cultures of infectious exudates. Deacon, Peacock, Freeman, Harris, and Bunch (1960) described the results of diagnostic studies made by his group. They examined 150 females, named by male contacts suffering from acute gonorrhoea. Specimens were collected from the urethra, cervix, and vagina. By direct smear staining the FA detected 25-5 per cent. of the individuals harbouring the gonococcus. The delayed FA method increased the percentage of positive results to 58 per cent. The direct method of eximination required one hour and the delayed method 20 to 24 hours. In comparison, the conventional culture procedure, including isolation and fermentation studies, required 3 to 10 days. Deacon's results were confirmed by Shapiro and Lentz (1963), who studied 148 women named as the sexual partners of men infected with acute gonorrhoea. Specimens were obtained from the urethra, vagina, cervix, and endocervix. Seventy patients (47-3 per cent.) had positive reactions. This