Parallel evaluation of serological tests applied in african trypanosomiasis: a WHO collaborative study

Abstract

Previously, the most commonly used serological tests for the indirect diagnosis of African trypanosomiasis were the indirect fluorescent antibody test, immunodiffusion test, and the determination of IgM levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Recently, the capillary passive haemagglutination test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) have been used in diagnosing trypanosomiasis. However, a parallel evaluation was needed to indicate the comparative diagnostic value of these various serological tests. A double-blind study conducted by WHO with the collaboration of three European and four African laboratories using well-documented serum samples provides a reasonable basis for determining in parallel the sensitivities of the various techniques.