Comparison of three ELISAs for the routine diagnosis of human T-lymphotropic virus infection in a high-prevalence setting in Peru

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009 Apr;103(4):420-2. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.12.002. Epub 2009 Jan 19.

Abstract

To compare three human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) ELISAs in a high-prevalence setting, we recruited 300 adults: 125 relatives of HTLV-infected subjects and 175 patients with possible diagnoses of HTLV-associated diseases. Sera were tested with Platelia, Murex, and Ortho ELISA. Samples with positive or discordant ELISA underwent confirmatory Inno-Lia testing. Inno-Lia gave 85/300 HTLV-1-positive and 1/300 HTLV-2-positive results. The positive predictive value was 98% for Platelia, and 100% for Murex and Ortho. Six samples had discordant ELISA; Murex gave one false-negative result, Ortho two and Platelia one. In high-prevalence settings, it is recommended to test samples with two ELISAs before considering them HTLV-seronegative.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods*
  • Female
  • HTLV-I Infections / diagnosis*
  • HTLV-I Infections / epidemiology
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / genetics*
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prevalence