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Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1971 Mar;24(2):120–121. doi: 10.1136/jcp.24.2.120

False positive Wassermann reaction associated with evidence of enterovirus infection

R A Quaife 1, J V T Gostling 1
PMCID: PMC476927  PMID: 5102524

Abstract

A large proportion of high titre Coxsackie B5 complement-fixation tests was detected among sera giving false positive Wassermann reactions during 1969. Echo virus type 9 proved to be the prevailing enterovirus and is one of those which induces the formation of antibody to Coxsackie B5. One case of Echo virus type 9 meningitis is presented which produced a false positive Wassermann reaction and a high titre Coxsackie B5 complement-fixation test. The relationship between Echo virus type 9 infection, Coxsackie complement-fixation test results, and false positive Wassermann reactions is considered significant.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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