The performance of haematuria reagent strips for the rapid mapping of urinary schistosomiasis: field experience from Southern Sudan

Trop Med Int Health. 2009 Dec;14(12):1484-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02407.x. Epub 2009 Oct 10.

Abstract

The implementation of programmes to control neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) requires up-to-date information on the prevalence and distribution of each NTD. This study evaluated the performance of reagent strip testing for haematuria to diagnose Schistosoma haematobium infection among school-aged children in the context of a rapid mapping survey in Southern Sudan. The reagent strips were highly sensitive (97.8%) but only moderately specific (58.8%). The proportion of false positive diagnoses was significantly higher among girls than boys, especially among girls aged 5-10 years. These findings suggest that reagent strips alone are not sufficient for rapid mapping surveys. A two-step approach is thus recommended whereby haematuria-positive urine samples are subsequently examined using urine filtration.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Community Health Services / organization & administration
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Hematuria / diagnosis*
  • Hematuria / epidemiology
  • Hematuria / urine
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Population Surveillance
  • Prevalence
  • Reagent Strips*
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / diagnosis*
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / epidemiology
  • Schistosomiasis haematobia / urine
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sudan / epidemiology

Substances

  • Reagent Strips