Lateral Flow Test Evaluated for African Trypanosomiasis
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 04 Aug 2014 |
Image: The Lateral flow test for human African trypanosomiasis using a single-antigen (sVSG117) prototype (left) and a dual-antigen prototype developed with infection serum and control uninfected serum (right) (Photo courtesy of University of Dundee).
Image: Photomicrograph a Trypanosoma brucei gambiense found in a Giemsa-stained blood smear (Photo courtesy of Blaine Mathison).
A prototype lateral flow test has been developed to diagnose human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, which could improve on the Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT).
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by infection with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and the diagnosis of this parasitic infection currently relies primarily on a CATT or microscopy, both of which have their limitations, and there is no simple immunodiagnostic test for infection with the other subspecies, T. b. rhodesiense.
Scientists at the University of Dundee (UK) screened pools of infected and control sera against four different soluble form variant surface glycoproteins (sVSGs) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pooled sera were from 10 stage 1 T. b. gambiense patients, 40 stage 2 T. b. gambiense patients and 50 matched uninfected patient sera. One glycoprotein called sVSG117, showed particularly strong immunoreactivity to pooled infection sera.
The sVSG117 was supplied to an immunoassay development and manufacturing company, BBI Solutions, (Cardiff, UK) to make single and dual antigen lateral flow test (LFT) devices for both blood and serum samples. After the application of the sera, the LFT is examined after 30 minutes, and scoring of the test bands was performed by visual comparison of freshly completed tests with a scoring card. For the virtual field trial, two people scored all of the LFT devices independently. If there was disagreement about the infection-status of a given serum sample, a third individual provided adjudication.
In the virtual field trial, using two positive antigen bands as the criterion for infection, the sVSG117 and rISG65 dual-antigen lateral flow test prototype showed a sensitivity of 97.3% and a specificity of 83.3% for the detection of T. b. gambiense infections. The device was not as good for detecting T. b. rhodesiense infections using two positive antigen bands as the criterion for infection, with a sensitivity of 58.9% and specificity of 97.3%. However, using one or both positive antigen band(s) as the criterion for T. b. rhodesiense infection improved the sensitivity to 83.9% with a specificity of 85.3% These results encourage further development of the dual-antigen device for clinical use.
The authors concluded that LFT technology offers advantages over CATT with respect to the criteria components of the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland) of affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid, equipment-free and deliverable to the people at need (ASSURED). The ideal second-generation LFT is likely to use two recombinant, rather than native, antigens and recombinant ISG65 and/or VSG domains could be the answer. The study was published on July 17, 2014, in the journal Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Related Links:
University of Dundee
BBI Solutions
World Health Organization
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by infection with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and the diagnosis of this parasitic infection currently relies primarily on a CATT or microscopy, both of which have their limitations, and there is no simple immunodiagnostic test for infection with the other subspecies, T. b. rhodesiense.
Scientists at the University of Dundee (UK) screened pools of infected and control sera against four different soluble form variant surface glycoproteins (sVSGs) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pooled sera were from 10 stage 1 T. b. gambiense patients, 40 stage 2 T. b. gambiense patients and 50 matched uninfected patient sera. One glycoprotein called sVSG117, showed particularly strong immunoreactivity to pooled infection sera.
The sVSG117 was supplied to an immunoassay development and manufacturing company, BBI Solutions, (Cardiff, UK) to make single and dual antigen lateral flow test (LFT) devices for both blood and serum samples. After the application of the sera, the LFT is examined after 30 minutes, and scoring of the test bands was performed by visual comparison of freshly completed tests with a scoring card. For the virtual field trial, two people scored all of the LFT devices independently. If there was disagreement about the infection-status of a given serum sample, a third individual provided adjudication.
In the virtual field trial, using two positive antigen bands as the criterion for infection, the sVSG117 and rISG65 dual-antigen lateral flow test prototype showed a sensitivity of 97.3% and a specificity of 83.3% for the detection of T. b. gambiense infections. The device was not as good for detecting T. b. rhodesiense infections using two positive antigen bands as the criterion for infection, with a sensitivity of 58.9% and specificity of 97.3%. However, using one or both positive antigen band(s) as the criterion for T. b. rhodesiense infection improved the sensitivity to 83.9% with a specificity of 85.3% These results encourage further development of the dual-antigen device for clinical use.
The authors concluded that LFT technology offers advantages over CATT with respect to the criteria components of the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland) of affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid, equipment-free and deliverable to the people at need (ASSURED). The ideal second-generation LFT is likely to use two recombinant, rather than native, antigens and recombinant ISG65 and/or VSG domains could be the answer. The study was published on July 17, 2014, in the journal Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Related Links:
University of Dundee
BBI Solutions
World Health Organization
Latest Microbiology News
- Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing
- Automated Sepsis Test System Enables Rapid Diagnosis for Patients with Severe Bloodstream Infections
- Enhanced Rapid Syndromic Molecular Diagnostic Solution Detects Broad Range of Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Decision Support Software a Game-Changer in Antimicrobial Resistance Battle
- New CE-Marked Hepatitis Assays to Help Diagnose Infections Earlier
- 1 Hour, Direct-From-Blood Multiplex PCR Test Identifies 95% of Sepsis-Causing Pathogens
- Mouth Bacteria Test Could Predict Colon Cancer Progression
- Unique Metabolic Signature Could Enable Sepsis Diagnosis within One Hour of Blood Collection
- Groundbreaking Diagnostic Platform Provides AST Results With Unprecedented Speed
- Simple Blood Test Combined With Personalized Risk Model Improves Sepsis Diagnosis
- Blood Analysis Predicts Sepsis and Organ Failure in Children
- TB Blood Test Could Detect Millions of Silent Spreaders
- New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours
- New Tuberculosis Test to Expand Testing Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Rapid Test Diagnoses Tropical Disease within Hours for Faster Antibiotics Treatment
- Rapid Molecular Testing Enables Faster, More Targeted Antibiotic Treatment for Pneumonia