In principle, the test is performed in a similar manner to other well known slide tests. A certain amount of concentrated killed antigen and patients serum are mixed on a plate, slide or card and allowed to react for a specified period, after which the presence of agglutination is determined by naked eye.
Slide-test antigens are usually suspensions of leptospires that have been killed by formalin or thiomersal.
Serotypes can be mixed into pools without loss in sensitivity.