RESUMEN
An ELISA was set up in this work using the whole-cell pneumococcus as coating antigen for the detection of specific pneumococcal antibody[ies] as a marker for the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia cases among children. Serum samples [31] were collected from cases and matched control subjects. The reliability of the test was ensured by repeating the test of the same sample in different settings, by testing second sample of the same patient at different time and by including quality control of each dilution of each tested serum sample and each reagent used in this assay. Using blood culture as the gold standard test for the diagnosis of these cases, sensitivity [90%-100%] and specificity [80%-90%] of this technique were discussed. This assay is an easy technique and does not need any special reagents, equipment or skills. ELISA of this work could be considered as a diagnostic discrimination test for the diagnosis and for the study disease frequency survey of pneumococcal pneumonia cases among children in rural or urban communities