Performance of the rapid plasma reagin and the rapid syphilis screening tests in the diagnosis of syphilis in field conditions in rural Africa.
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.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Reaginas
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Serodiagnóstico de la Sífilis
/
Sífilis
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
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Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Female
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Humans
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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