title: Evaluation of enrichment method for the detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 using a rapid dipstick test in Bangladesh.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the specificity of the Crystal VC dipstick test for detecting cholera.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared direct testing using the Crystal VC dipstick test and testing after enrichment for 6 h in alkaline peptone water (APW) to bacterial culture as the gold standard. Samples positive by dipstick but negative by culture were also tested using PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stool was collected from 125 patients. The overall specificities of the direct testing and testing after 6-h enrichment in APW compared to bacterial culture were 91.8% and 98.4% (P = 0.125), respectively, and the sensitivities were 65.6% and 75.0% (P = 0.07), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in the sensitivity of the Crystal VC kit with the use of the 6-h enrichment step in APW compared to direct testing was marginally significant. The Crystal VC dipstick had a much higher specificity than previously reported (91-98%). Therefore, this method might be a promising screening tool for cholera outbreak surveillance in resource-limited settings where elimination of false-positive results is critical.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mahamud-Ur
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sack
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bradley Sack
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Saif-Ur-Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Azman
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Shirajum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monira
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Sazzadul I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Bhuyian
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Zillur Rahman
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toslim Mahmud
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Munshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mustafiz
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Munirul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D001459:Bangladesh; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002771:Cholera / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003470:Culture Media; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
keywords: Bangladesh; V. cholerae O1; culture; diagnosis; dipstick test