A method for the detection of M. leprae antigens in urine of leprosy patients by gel diffusion and gel electrophoretic techniques and significance in diagnosis.

A simple and novel method has been developed for the first time to detect M. leprae antigens in the urine of leprosy patients by treating the urine samples with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The antigens thus released can be demonstrated by simpler techniques like gel diffusion. By this method about 86% antigen positivity is observed in the urine of TT/BT and 83% positivity in BB patients. In BL/LL patients the antigen positivity is observed in 87% of the subjects. The high rate of M. leprae antigen positivity by the present method in the urine of patients with early leprosy may prove to be of diagnostic significance.