[Diagnosis of listeriosis. Value and limitations of the leukocyte migration inhibition test].

A human leucocyte migration inhibition test (HLMT) was performed in 50 healthy subjects and in 23 patients with bacteriologically confirmed listeriosis, using Listeria monocytogenes as antigen. Considerable inhibition was found in most patients, whereas the test was negative in all controls. In view of this consistent relationship between test and disease, it is suggested that the HLMT could be used for the indirect diagnosis of listeriosis, taking into account the delay between the onset of infection and the positivity of the test.