Negative studies are helpful to compute the specificity of diagnostic tests: measuring Trypanosoma cruzi seroprevalence in Guanajuato, Mexico

BMC Res Notes. 2015 Oct 28:8:614. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1612-z.

Abstract

Background: Publishing negative seroprevalence studies not only helps to have more accurate seroprevalence estimates but also allows calculating the specificity of the diagnostic tests used. We performed a population-based Trypanosoma cruzi seroprevalence survey in a community in central Mexico.

Results: We surveyed 204 women and children and collected blood by finger prick. We performed rapid tests (Stat-Pak, Chembio, Inc., Medford, New York) and recombinant Chagas ELISA tests v3.0 (Wiener, Rosario, Argentina). All rapid tests and all ELISA tests were negative.

Conclusion: The rapid test had 100 % of specificity compared to the ELISA.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Chagas Disease / diagnosis
  • Chagas Disease / epidemiology
  • Chagas Disease / immunology
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / standards*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / standards*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan