Development of a rapid diagnostic kit that uses an immunochromatographic device to detect antibodies in human sparganosis

Abstract

A diagnostic kit using an immunochromatographic device was developed to replace the time-consuming immunodiagnostic methods for human sparganosis. The kit was found to be faster and easier to use than an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and showed higher sensitivity and specificity. It will be useful for the laboratory diagnosis of hospitalized cases of sparganosis.

FIG 1

iSpa kit developed in this study. Device with cover open (a) and closed (b). Sample, drop, and push indicate positions for loading of diluted serum sample, conjugate, and substrate solution, respectively. No band appears at test line “T” in the negative case (c), but a blue band becomes visible in the positive case (d). A band at “C” is control line. (e) Reference pattern, levels 1 to 8.

FIG 2

A follow-up case of cerebral sparganosis using iSpa kit and ELISA. Shown are the results of the changes in antibody levels using the iSpa kit (a) and ELISA (b). (a) Arrow, positive bands appeared at dates when blood samples were taken. (b) Dotted line, cutoff value (0.133); arrow, craniotomy performed on 31 October 2007.