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Performance of the rapid plasma reagin and the rapid syphilis screening tests in the diagnosis of syphilis in field conditions in rural Africa.
West, B; Walraven, G; Morison, L; Brouwers, J; Bailey, R.
Afiliación
  • West B; Reproductive Health Programme, MRC Laboratories, Farafenni and Fajara, PO Box 273, Banjul, Gambia. bwest@mrc.gm
Sex Transm Infect ; 78(4): 282-5, 2002 Aug.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12181468
OBJECTIVES: To assess the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test performance in the field and to evaluate a new rapid syphilis test (RST) as a primary screen for syphilis. METHODS: 1325 women of reproductive age from rural communities in the Gambia were tested for syphilis seropositivity using a RPR 18 mm circle card and a RST strip. Within 1 week a repeat RPR and a TPHA test were carried out using standard techniques in the laboratory. RESULTS: Comparing field tests to a diagnosis of "active" syphilis defined as laboratory RPR and TPHA positive, the RPR test was 77.5% sensitive and 94.1% specific; the RST was 75.0% sensitive and 95.2% specific. The RST was easier to use and interpret than the RPR test especially where field conditions were difficult. In this setting with a low prevalence of syphilis in the community (3%), the chance of someone with a positive test being confirmed as having serologically active syphilis was less than 50% for both tests. CONCLUSIONS: The appropriateness of syphilis screening using RPR testing in antenatal clinics and health centres should be questioned if there is a low prevalence in the population, conditions for testing are poor, and resources limited. There is still an urgent need for an appropriate rapid syphilis test for field use.
Asunto(s)

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Reaginas / Serodiagnóstico de la Sífilis / Sífilis Tipo de estudio: Diagnostic_studies / Evaluation_studies / Prevalence_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies / Screening_studies Límite: Adolescent / Adult / Female / Humans / Middle aged País/Región como asunto: Africa Idioma: En Revista: Sex Transm Infect Asunto de la revista: DOENCAS SEXUALMENTE TRANSMISSIVEIS Año: 2002 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Gambia Pais de publicación: Reino Unido

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Reaginas / Serodiagnóstico de la Sífilis / Sífilis Tipo de estudio: Diagnostic_studies / Evaluation_studies / Prevalence_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies / Screening_studies Límite: Adolescent / Adult / Female / Humans / Middle aged País/Región como asunto: Africa Idioma: En Revista: Sex Transm Infect Asunto de la revista: DOENCAS SEXUALMENTE TRANSMISSIVEIS Año: 2002 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Gambia Pais de publicación: Reino Unido