diagnosis
Last reviewed 11/2022
This diagnosis is by complement fixation test, Schuffer agglutination test, Leptospira antibodies and blood, urine and CSF culture.
Leptospira may be cultured in the first week of infection but during the second week blood culture is negative. Serological tests become positive in the second week.
Urine cultures may be positive after about two weeks. Leptospira survive better in alkaline urine.
There is generaly a polymorphonuclear leucocytosis in leptospirosis.