title: TF-Test Modified: New Diagnostic Tool for Human Enteroparasitosis.
abstract: Intestinal parasitosis is highly prevalent worldwide, being among the main causes of illness and death in humans. Currently, laboratory diagnosis of the intestinal parasites is accomplished through manual technical procedures, mostly developed decades ago, which justifies the development of more sensitive and practical techniques. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop, evaluate, and validate a new parasitological technique referred to as TF-Test Modified, in comparison to three conventional parasitological techniques: TF-Test Conventional; Rugai, Mattos & Brisola; and Helm Test/Kato-Katz. For this realization, we collected stool samples from 457 volunteers located in endemic areas of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, and statistically compared the techniques. Intestinal protozoa and helminths were detected qualitatively in 42.23% (193/457) of the volunteers by TF-Test Modified technique, against 36.76% (168/457) by TF-Test Conventional, 5.03% (23/457) by Helm Test/Kato-Katz, and 4.16% (19/457) by Rugai, Mattos & Brisola. Furthermore, the new technique presented "almost perfect kappa" agreement in all evaluated parameters with 95% (P < 0.05) of estimation. The current study showed that the TF-Test Modified technique can be comprehensively used in the diagnosis of intestinal protozoa and helminths, and its greater diagnostic sensitivity should help improving the quality of laboratory diagnosis, population surveys, and control of intestinal parasites.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Barboza de
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca Martins Dos
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil.|Laboratory of Visual Informatics in Biomedical and Health, Institute of Computing, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jancarlo Ferreira
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Visual Informatics in Biomedical and Health, Institute of Computing, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil.|Immunocamp Technology Research and Development LTDA, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso Tetsuo Nagase
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sumie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoshino Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Visual Informatics in Biomedical and Health, Institute of Computing, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Xavier
authors.initials: AX
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP/Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julia Cestari
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pierucci
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP/Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Vinicius Shigaki de
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University - UNESP/Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katia Denise Saraiva
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bresciani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: TF-Test Modified; intestinal parasitosis; laboratory diagnosis; parasitological techniques; parasitology