Evaluation of the ICT whole blood antigen card test to detect infection due to nocturnally periodic Wuchereria bancrofti in South India

The commercially available ICT Card Test for bancroftian filariasis was eva luated for its sensitivity and specificity in detecting microfilaria carrie rs among 189 individuals each in filariasis-endemic and nonendemic areas in South India, and compared to both conventional night blood finger prick th ick blood smear examination and venous blood membrane filtration. Though th e specificity of the test was 100% in comparison to both, the sensitivity w as 98.5% against the finger prick thick blood smear and 71.9 compared to th e membrane filtration technique. Similarly, the positive predictive value w as 100% against both techniques, but the negative predictive values were 99 .5% against the finger prick thick blood smear and 88.3% compared to the me mbrane filtration technique. The rest's lower sensitivity compared to the f iltration technique requires further investigation.