title: The influence of ML Flow test in leprosy classification.
abstract: This is a descriptive, exploratory study correlating ML Flow, bacilloscopy and classification of paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB), involving 1,041 new leprosy cases in 13 municipalities of Minas Gerais State, from October 2002 to March 2004. Agreement between ML Flow and the classification of the number of skin lesions and bacilloscopy was moderate (K:0.51 and K:0.48, respectively); and substantial for final classification (K:0.77). From January 2000 to March 2004, the proportion of new MB cases in Minas Gerais decreased from 78.1 to 65.8%. The reduction in the percentage of MB cases was higher in health centers that participated in the ML Flow study (73.1% to 53.3%). The difference between PB and MB in the participating and non-participating health centers from January to March 2004 was statistically significant. Implementation of the ML Flow test influenced the classification of patients, suggesting a direct and beneficial impact on patient treatment and the control of the leprosy endemic in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate Program in Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil. cida@grossi.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida de Faria
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Maria Ana Araújo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Leboeuf
authors.forename: Ana Regina Coelho de
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Carlos Maurício de Figueiredo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bührer-Sékula
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007918:Leprosy / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae