A haemagglutination test for anti-Panton-Valentine leucocidin in serum: an interim report on 200 cases.

The test is an application of the method originally described by Boyden (1951) and adapted by Stavitsky and Arquilla (1958). Sera which contain anti-Panton-Valentine leucocidin agglutinate the prepared red cells, often to a very high dilution, and this has provided a useful serological test for the diagnosis of staphylococcal disease in orthopaedic lesions. The test is quicker as a routine investigation than the bioscopic method previously described by Towers and Gladstone (1958).