Field evaluation of the whole blood immunochromatographic test for rapid bancroftian filariasis diagnosis in the northeast of Brazil

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo

Cynthia Braga²  Maria Inês Dourado¹  Ricardo Arraes De A. Ximenes¹  Luiz Alves²  Fabio Brayner²  Abraham Rocha²  Neal Alexander¹ 

[1] ,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães Recife Pernambuco ,Brazil

关键词: Bancroftian filariasis;    Diagnostic;    Screening;    Surveillance;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0036-46652003000300002

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

This study evaluated the whole blood immunochromatographic card test (ICT card test) in a survey performed in Northeastern Brazil. 625 people were examined by the thick blood film (TBF) and ICT card test. Residents of a non-endemic area were also tested by the whole blood card test and Og4C3. The sensitivity of the ICT card test was 94.7% overall, but lower in females than males, based on the reasonable assumption that TBF is 100% specific. However, since TBF and other methods have unknown sensitivity, the true specificity of the card test is unknown. Nevertheless, it is possible to estimate upper and lower limits for the specificity, and relate it to the prevalence of the disease. In the endemic area, the possible range of the specificity was from 72.4% to 100%. 29.6% of the card tests performed in the non-endemic area exhibited faint lines that were interpreted as positives. Characteristics of the method including high sensitivity, promptness and simplicity justify its use for screening of filariasis. However, detailed information about the correct interpretation in case of extremely faint lines is essential. Further studies designed to consider problems arising from imperfect standards are necessary, as is a sounder diagnostic definition for the card test.

【 授权许可】

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