Comparative evaluation of three new tools for diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis based on detection of specific circulating antigens

Three new and commercially available tools for diagnosis of Wuchereria banc rofti infections based on detection of specific circulating antigens were e valuated and compared in the same group of individuals from a highly endemi c village in southern Ghana. The tests were: (1) the ICT card test for seru m specimens; (2) the TropBio ELISA test for serum specimens; and (3) the Tr opBio ELISA test for filter-paper specimens. A high degree of positive/nega tive response similarity was observed for the 3 tests, and the sensitivity for detecting microfilaraemic cases was 100% for all tests. The antigen lev els measured in the TropBio serum test and the TropBio filter-paper test we re statistically significantly correlated. Among antigen-positive endemic i ndividuals the antigen levels in these 2 tests furthermore showed a positiv e association with the microfilarial intensity, but a statistical significa nt correlation was seen only for the filter-paper version of the test. The results are promising for the use of the 3 tests as diagnostic tools in ban croftian filariasis.