First Inter-laboratory Comparison of Diagnosis in Latin America

Overview

Journal Rev Panam Salud Publica

Specialty Public Health

Date 2020 Jan 1

PMID 31889951

Citations 1

Authors

Maria Isabel Jercic

Graciela Santillan

Susana Elola

William Quispe Paredes

Lidia B Conza Blanco

Noelia Morel

Rodrigo Villegas

Baldomero Molina Flores

Cesar M Gavidia

Marta Cabrera

Alexandre Guerra Dos Santos

Manuel J Sanchez-Vazquez

Melody J Maxwell

Marco A Vigilato

Edmundo Larrieu

Victor J Del Rio Vilas

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests for diagnosing in dog feces among national reference laboratories in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

Methods: National laboratories affiliated with the Ministry of Health/Agriculture of each country exchanged panels of 10 positive/negative samples obtained from their regular national surveillance programs in November 2015 - November 2016. All laboratories applied PCR; two also applied ELISA techniques. Sensitivity and specificity were determined for each laboratory and concordance of results among the laboratories was evaluated by Cohen Kappa coefficient.

Results: Poor concordance (3 of 10 paired comparisons had values of Kappa > 0.4), low sensitivity and specificity across all laboratories, and poor performance of both techniques in detecting in canine feces was demonstrated in this study. An ex-post comparison of the laboratories' test protocols showed substantial heterogeneity that could partially explain poor concordance of results.

Conclusion: The results underscore the heterogeneity of canine echinococcosis diagnosis across the region and indicate possible sources of variability. Efforts to standardize canine echinococcosis testing must be included in the plan of action for the Regional Initiative for the Control of Cystic Echinococcosis. Future comparisons with fecal samples of known parasite load are needed.

Citing Articles

[Controlling cystic echinococcosis: outlook in the 21st centuryControle da equinococose/hidatidose cística: perspectivas no século XXI].

Larrieu E, Alves R, Vigilato M Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2025; 49():e13.

PMID: 39811042 PMC: 11726123. DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2025.13.

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Siles-Lucas M, Uchiumi L, Tamarozzi F Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2023; 36(5):333-340.

PMID: 37466103 PMC: 10487401. DOI: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000941.

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