Abstract: We developed a modified Dot-ELISA (M-Dot-ELISA) for detecting phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) antigen fmm M. leprae and compared with microplate ELISA (MicELISA) and Mycobacterium leprae particle agglutination (MLPA) test. The sensitivity of M-Dot-ELISA in leprosy patients is 35.8%, but in LL and BL patients is 95% and 75% respectively. The specificity of M-Dot-ELISA is 97.5%. The quantity of pGL-I correlated with the OD value of IgM antibody (r=0.993, z=2.58, P<0.01) in leprosy patients. M-Dot-ELISA does not need special equipments, and is simple, rapid, specific and economic, the results can be read out macroscopically andis easy to carry out under field condition for the dLtection of M. leprae infection. The method has not been reported in our counkry so far.

Key words: Leprosy, Serodiagnosis