Leishmaniasis FAST (Fast Agglutination Screening Test)
Related Items
Approach
KIT Biomedical Research has developed a fast serological test, the fast agglutination screening test (FAST) based on the DAT. The FAST gives qualitative results (positive or negative) in 3 hours. The test was developed in the laboratory and evaluated under field conditions for human visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia and for canine leishmaniosis in Portugal. In analogy to the DAT, the antigen is produced in batches with appropriate QC procedures in place.
Focal points
- Development and production of a fast agglutination screening test (FAST) for the sero-diagnosis of human visceral and canine leishmaniasis
- Evaluation under field condition of the FAST
- Implementation of FAST in diagnostic laboratories in leishmaniasis endemic countries
Example
The FAST was evaluated under field conditions in Northern Ethiopia by scientists of the Leishmaniasis Research Group of the Institute of Pathobiology (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) led by Asrat Hailu. In total 103 suspected cases were recruited for the study. Based on parasitological examination, 49 patients were parasitologically confirmed of having visceral leishmaniasis and the other 54 suspected cases were parasitologically negative. Field evaluation of FAST was possible in blood samples of 89 patients. The FAST had 4 false negative results and 13 false positive results. The DAT had 2 false negative results and 20 false positive results.
The FAST had a high predictive value of a negative test, demonstrating that the FAST could be utilised to rapidly exclude non-VL patients from a large population of suspects with fever and splenomegaly in endemic areas.
Projects
- Evaluation of simple diagnostics for the detection of leishmania infections in humans and dogs in endemic regions
- Field evaluation of a FAST anti-leishmania antibody detection assay
- Transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern Sudan: studies on reservoir hosts and vectors
Publications
- Hailu, A. - Sero-epidemiological assessment and diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic locality using Fast Agglutination Screening Test (FAST).
- Schallig, H.D.F.H. - Development of a fast agglutination screening test (FAST) for the detection of anti-Leishmania antibodies in dogs.
- Cardoso, L. - Serological survey of Leishmania infection in dogs from the municipality of Peso da Régua (Alto Douro, Portugal) using the direct agglutination test (DAT) and fast agglutination screening test (FAST)
- da Silva, E.S. - Application of Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) and Fast Agglutination Screening Test (FAST) for sero-diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in endemic area of Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Hailu, A. - Field evaluation of a fast anti-Leishmania antibody detection assay in Ethiopia