Diagnostic accuracy of rapid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of human hydatidosis

Rapid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was compared with the stand ard ELISA and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) techniques for the diagnosis of human hydatidosis. Eighty nine serum samples including 17 from hydatido sis patients (10 surgically confirmed and 7 clinically suspected), 50 from patients with other parasitic diseases and 22 samples from normal healthy i ndividuals were analysed for anti-hydatid IgG antibodies using sheep hydati d cyst fluid antigen. The sensitivity and specificity respectively was foun d to be 82.3 and 100 per cent by rapid ELISA; 88.23 and 90.27 per cent by s tandard ELISA and 70.58 and 100 per cent by IHA technique. No cross reactio ns were observed with rapid ELISA technique using samples from cysticercosi s and amoebiasis patients and normal healthy controls. The present study in dicates that rapid ELISA can easily be performed in place of the standard E LISA for the serodiagnosis of human hydatidosis with the advantage of minim ising reporting time and manpower hours.