[Laboratory and instrumental diagnosis of echinococcosis during conducting mass screening and surgical treatment].

In the course of 15 years the authors conducted a comprehensive examination of over 13,000 patients for establishing the diagnosis and surgical treatment of hydatid disease; among these patients there were more than 3,000 who underwent operation, 1,280 who were examined for recurrence of the disease, and 5,000 who were subjected to periodical medical examination. The enzyme immunoassay and indirect hemagglutination test are the most reliable in the diagnosis of primary and recurrent hydatid disease and in periodical examination; the latex fixation test remains false-positive (16.9%) up to 3 years. Combination of laboratory and instrumental methods (computed tomography, ultrasonic examination, scanning and multi-view X-ray examination) makes it possible to establish not only the topical diagnosis but also the state of the hydatids, which helps in the choice of the operative method.