Antigen detection from urine of Kala-azar cases by latex agglutination test

Mymensingh Med J. 2008 Jan;17(1):22-7.

Abstract

A recently developed Latex agglutination method known as "KATEX" for detecting leishmanial antigen in urine of Kala-azar patients was evaluated on 97 Kala-azar cases and 35 controls in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College during the period from March' 2004 to February' 2005. The method yielded sensitivity as 100% and 82.8% in 33 confirmed and 64 ICT positive cases respectively. Since 8.6% controls showed antigen positive results, so specificity of KATEX was calculated as 91.4%. KATEX methods for antigen detection in urine should be used as an early immuno-diagnostic test as it has yielded high sensitivity. But interpretation of a positive test must be made cautiously having correlation with clinical findings as because it becomes false positive in Kala-azar free person. Further elucidation of KATEX method including larger population from community giving particular emphasis on its prognostic use was strongly recommended.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / urine*
  • Bangladesh
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Latex Fixation Tests / methods*
  • Leishmania donovani / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / diagnosis*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / urine
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan