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Evaluation of 9 Rapid Agglutination Tests for the Diagnosis of Typhoid and Parathyphoid Fever in Côte D'ivoire
Roseline Affi-Aboli1
Matthieu Kabran1 , 2
Aimé Césaire Adiko1
Nadège-Audrey Abiyou1
Franck Stéphane Amani1
Jean-Claude Seka1
Bamory Dembele1
Authors Info & Affiliations
Abstract
Introduction:
In Africa, the Widal test is done in the majority of laboratories by rapid tests whose performances are poorly documented. We evaluate the performance of 9 commercial rapid tests used in Côte d'Ivoire for the serodiagnosis of typhoid and paratyphoid fever.
Methods:
we used a panel of 170 samples collected from subjects suspected of typhoid or paratyphoid fever in Abidjan to determine the sensitivity, the specificity and operational characteristics of 9 plate agglutination tests (BIOREX®, BIOTEC®, CHRONOLAB®, CROMATEST®, FORTRESS®, PLASMATEC®, CYPRESS®, SPINREACT® and TYDAL®) compared to the reference technique SALMONELLA SEROLOGY® of BIORAD (tube agglutination).
Results:
Among the 9 evaluated tests, only BIOTEC® presented good performances (96% sensitivity and 97% specificity). Others gave sensitivities below 80%. Their characteristics were improved with the semi-quantitative plate agglutination test. All tests had good operational characteristics.
Conclusion:
In our context, the majority of tests evaluated should not be used to carry out the Widal test.
