title: Evaluation of the diagnostic performance and operational characteristics of four rapid immunochromatographic syphilis tests in Burkina Faso.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little information is available on the rapid diagnostic testing for syphilis in Burkina Faso. The objectives of the study were (i) to assess the sensitivity and specificity of four on site rapid tests in comparison with Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) as a gold standard and (ii) to evaluate the operational characteristics of those tests among health workers in a maternity unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four rapid syphilis tests commercially available in Burkina Faso were evaluated using archived serum samples and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA) as the gold standard. Blood samples were collected between November 2011 and June 2012 from blood donors at the Regional Blood Transfusion Center of Ouagadougou. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were calculated. Evaluation of operational characteristics such as clarity of pamphlet, complexity of technique, duration, was conducted in a first-level healthcare center with health workers in maternity unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alere DetermineTM Syphilis was the most sensitive of the four rapid syphilis tests evaluated. It was followed by SD Bioline Syphilis 3.0, Cypress Diagnostics Syphilis Quick test and Accu-Tell ® Rapid Anti-TP, which was the least sensitive. The four tests demonstrated a good diagnostic specificity for syphilis (95-98%), and healthcare workers found them easy to use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study allowed confirming the good performance of three of four rapid syphilis tests in Burkina Faso. More research will be conducted to assess the feasibility of introducing selected rapid tests for syphilis in antenatal care services.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé (IRSS), Département biomédical et santé publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso ; Free Afrik, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso ; University of Western Cape, School of Public Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Fadima Yaya
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Bocoum
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé (IRSS), Département biomédical et santé publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ouédraogo
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé (IRSS), Département biomédical et santé publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Grissoum
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarnagda
authors.affiliation: Centre Régional de Transfusion Sanguine (CRTS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiba
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé (IRSS), Département biomédical et santé publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiendrebeogo
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé (IRSS), Département biomédical et santé publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bationo
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liestman
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé (IRSS), Département biomédical et santé publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diagbouga
authors.affiliation: University of Western Cape, School of Public Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zarowsky
authors.affiliation: Université de Ouagadougou, Laboratoire de Bactériologie-Virologie.
authors.forename: Ramata Ouédraogo
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé (IRSS), Département biomédical et santé publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Séni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kouanda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D002050:Burkina Faso; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Burkina Faso; performance; rapid test; syphilis