Objective: To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the OligoC-TesT and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification coupled to oligochromatography (NASBA-OC) for molecular detection of Leishmania in blood from patients with confirmed visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and healthy endemic controls from Kenya.
Methods: Blood specimens of 84 patients with confirmed VL and 98 endemic healthy controls from Baringo district in Kenya were submitted to both assays.
Results: The Leishmania OligoC-TesT showed a sensitivity of 96.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90-98.8%) and a specificity of 88.8% (95% CI: 81-93.6%), while the sensitivity and specificity of the NASBA-OC were 79.8% (95% CI: 67-87%) and 100% (95% CI: 96.3-100%), respectively.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate high sensitivity of the Leishmania OligoC-TesT on blood while the NASBA-OC is a better marker for active disease.