title: Specificity and sensitivity of a rapid dipstick test (Brugia Rapid) in the detection of Brugia malayi infection.
abstract: A total of 753 serum samples from 6 institutions in 3 countries (Malaysia, Indonesia and India) were used to evaluate an immunochromatographic rapid dipstick test, Brugia Rapid, for diagnosis of Brugia malayi infection. The samples comprised sera from 207 microfilaria-positive individuals and 546 individuals from filaria non-endemic areas. The latter consisted of 70 individuals with soil-transmitted helminth infections, 68 with other helminth infections, 238 with protozoan infections, 12 with bacterial and viral infections and 158 healthy individuals. The dipstick is prepared with a goat anti-mouse antibody control line and a B. malayi recombinant-antigen test line. First, the dipstick is dipped into a well containing diluted patient serum, thus allowing specific anti-filarial antibody in the serum to react with the recombinant antigen. Then the dipstick is placed into an adjacent well containing reconstituted anti-human IgG4-gold. After 10 min, development of 2 red-purplish lines denotes a positive result and one line indicates a negative reaction. The overall results of the evaluation showed 97% sensitivity, 99% specificity, 97% positive predictive value and 99% negative predictive value. Brugia Rapid is thus a promising diagnostic tool for detection of B. malayi infection, and would be especially useful for the brugian filariasis elimination programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. rahmah@kb.usm.my
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahmah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taniawati
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumaraswami
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Anuar
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hayati
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suharni
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D017178:Brugia malayi / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005368:Filariasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic