Latex agglutination assays are a type of serological method used for the diagnosis of sporotrichosis, a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii.

These tests detect agglutinating antibodies against Sporothrix schenckii in patient serum to aid in the diagnosis of the disease. The test is based on the principle of agglutination, which is the clumping of particles due to the presence of specific antibodies in the serum.

The test is highly specific, meaning that it can accurately identify patients with Sporothrix infection and distinguish them from those with other fungal infections or healthy individuals. However, false negatives can occur in patients with early or mild infections, or in those who have received antifungal therapy.

The test is usually performed as a qualitative screening test, meaning that it can detect the presence or absence of agglutinating antibodies in the serum, but it cannot quantify the amount of antibodies or measure their titer. The test can be performed on serum, plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens, depending on the clinical presentation of the patient.