title: Evaluation of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis.
abstract: The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were assessed in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis in two groups of school children, one attending a rural school where schistosomiasis is highly prevalent, the other attending a school in an urban locality where schistosomiasis is absent. The results showed that the ELISA had a sensitivity of 92.2% and 100% in Schistosoma mansoni and mixed infection, respectively. The specificity of the test increased from 92.1% to 98% when a fourth stool examination was done in cases giving false positive results. ELISA positively was significantly increased with the increase in egg count till it reached 100% in cases with 160 eggs per gram stools.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*