title: Evaluation of four rapid immunochromatographic tests for the detection of cardiac troponin I.
abstract: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a sensitive and specific marker of acute coronary syndromes and myocardial damage. During the past few years, it has become the preferred biochemical marker of myocardial infarction. However, due to the sensitivity required for its detection, only automated systems can be used in developed countries. However, these are rather expensive and unaffordable for most laboratories in developing countries. Many manufacturers have therefore proposed rapid immunochromatographic tests to detect cTnI. The aim of this study was to assess the limit of detection (LOD) and performance of four rapid immunochromatographic tests available in Madagascar. The four tests evaluated were Hexagon Troponin, Nadal troponin I cassette, Troponitest+, and Amicheck-Trop. Amicheck-Trop had a sensitivity and negative predictive value of about 80%, whereas for the three others, they were about 20%. The specificity of Amicheck-Trop of 87.3% was lower than the specificities of the other tests (98% to 100%). These differences were explained by the limits of detection of the tests: 0.3 to 0.4 ng/ml for Amicheck-Trop but only 1.8 to 2 ng/ml for the three other tests. It was concluded that Amicheck-Trop could be useful in the management of acute myocardial infarction or myocarditis in sparsely equipped laboratories in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Lovasoa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramparany
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Jacques-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Nizou
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Saux
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talarmin
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D008270:Madagascar; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D019210:Troponin I