title: Serological diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi: evaluation of three enzyme immunoassays and an indirect immunofluorescent assay.
abstract: Chagas' disease is an important cause of heart failure in Latin America, but is rare in the United States. The immigration of persons from endemic countries increases the potential of encountering patients with the disease. Concerns have also been raised about the introduction of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes the disease, into the blood supply and during organ transplantation. To compare Chagas' antibody tests that are available in the United States, we evaluated three IgG ELISAs, CeLLabs T. cruzi ELISA, Hemagen Chagas' kit and IVD Research Chagas' Serum Microwell ELISA, and MarDx indirect immunofluorescent assays. The CeLLabs and Hemagen IgG ELISAs had 100 % agreement, sensitivity and specificity. The IVD Research IgG ELISA had 94.6 % agreement, 100 % sensitivity and 93 % specificity.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP) Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Annette K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Malan
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avelar
authors.forename: Sheldon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Litwin
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP) Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Harry R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP) Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Litwin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic