title: [Rapid serological diagnosis systems for human leptospirosis screening in Cuba].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  human leptospirosis requires rapid and early microbiological diagnosis since it is a common lethal disease worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to increase the quality of microbiological diagnosis of this infection, to expand the knowledge on the circulation of groups of leptospiras in Cuba and to show the benefits of an agglutination assay using Cuban latex particles and of commercial immunochromatogenic systems LEPTO Dipstick, Lepto Tek Lateral Flow, Lepto Tek Dri Dot and SD Leptospira IgM-IgG.
  
  
  METHODS
  this descriptive research used sera from positive and negative control cases to evaluate and measure the diagnostic value of rapid serological diagnosis systems with respect to the microagglutination method of reference (MAT). All the techniques used in this report are described in the Manual of Operations and Procedures of the Leptospira Lab in "Pedro Kourí" Institute of Tropical Medicine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  all the studied diagnosis systems exhibited acceptable values of sensitivity, specificity and agreement when compared to the international microagglutination method of reference with live microorganisms. The great selectivity (antigen reactivity) and the diagnostic reliability of the diagnostic systems were confirmed; particularly the mixed Cuban-made latex, the LEPTO Dipstick and the SD Leptospira IgM-IgG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the procedures used in this research work exceeded the traditional methods including the microagglutination method of reference in terms of easiness, rapidity, technical simplicity and level of performance, and all were useful for the screening of antibodies to leptospiras.
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kourí", La Habana, Cuba. amobregon@ipk.sld.cu
authors: C Ana Margarita
authors: CA
authors: Obregón Fuentes
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Fernandez Molina
authors: C Isabel
authors: CI
authors: Martínez Motas
authors: C Alina
authors: CA
authors: Llop Hernández
authors: Islay
authors: I
authors: Rodríguez González
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Rodríguez Silveira
authors: Yaindrys
authors: Y
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Yanais
authors: Y
authors: Valdés
mesh_terms: D003462:Cuba; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors