Abstract
A comparison has been made of a fluorescent antibody technique with a cultural method for the detection of Sh. sonnei in faeces. The two methods were in agreement in 73% of the 394 specimens examined; 57 (14.5%) speciments were positive by culture only; 52 (13.2%) specimens gave positive results by fluorescence microscopy which were not confirmed by culture. Most of the latter are thought to be ;false positive' results.The value and usefulness of fluorescence microscopy in the diagnosis of Sonne dysentery is discussed.