Table 5.

Representation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat shock protein 71 (71-kDa HSP), Rv0350 in ascitic fluid from TB ascites and non-TB ascites patients using the antibodies generated against 71-kDa HSP by ELISA.

Patients group	Positive for 71 kDa Hsp antigen (cut off 0.860)	Negative for 71 kDa Hsp antigen (cut off 0.860)	Absorbance (mean ± SD)	Range
TB ascites (n = 18)	15 (83.33%)	3 (16.67%)	0.968 ± 0.261	0.481–1.615
non TB ascites (n = 21)	5 (23.80%)	16 (76.20%)	0.644 ± 0.198	0.362–1.136

The mean 71-kDa HSP antigen level in the TB ascites group was significantly higher than that in the non-TB ascites group [p = 0.0005].