ABSTRACT
This study was done on 50 neonates diagnosed clinically and hematologically as suspetted sephis in to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of latex particle agglutination test [LPA] for rapid detection of bacterial antigen in sera in relation to blood culture technique. The most common hematological abnormality detected was the H.S.S. > 3.0 in 90% of cases. Microbiological results revealed that E. coli and Klebsiella were the most common organisms. E. coli accounted for [28%] of the cases, Klebsiella accounted for [24%] of cases and mixed infection by both organisms in [12%] of cases. The LPA test of E. coli gave positive reactions in 95% of patients with E. coli positive cultures while it gave positive reaction in 2 cases with negative blood cuItures and this elevate the sensitivity of the test up to 99%. The LPA tests of Streptococcus group B [SGB], Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis gave negative reactions