title: The result patterns of ML Flow and ELISA (PGL-I) serologic tests in leprosy-endemic and non-endemic areas.
abstract: ML Flow and anti-PGL-I ELISA are serological tests that detect IgM antibodies against the phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I), specific to Mycobacterium leprae. To evaluate the outcomes of ML Flow and ELISA (PGL-I) serological tests in leprosy-endemic areas in comparison to non-endemic ones, a total of 351 volunteers from Brazil and Chile were examined, including leprosy patients, healthy controls and others affected by other infectious or non-infectious diseases that are common differential diagnoses for leprosy. The ELISA cut-off point was established using the ROC Curve method (>or= 0.157). In endemic areas, 70% of leprosy patients present positive ML Flow results and 53.3% were ELISA-positive. In non-endemic areas, ML Flow was negative in all the subjects tested and ELISA was positive in 4 volunteers. ML Flow is faster and more easily performed and, therefore, a more adequate test for use in basic, primary-level health care centers. ELISA requires trained personnel, in addition to a more complex laboratory infrastructure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sanitary Dermatology, Eduardo de Menezes Hospital, Hospital Foundation of Minas Gerais State, MG, Brazil. rozanacastorina@globo.com
authors.forename: Rozana Castorina da
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Araos
authors.forename: Ana Cláudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida de Faria
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Sílvia Helena
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Rachel Adriana
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Penido
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bührer-Sékula
authors.forename: Carlos Maurício de Figueiredo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002677:Chile; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D012372:ROC Curve; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae