Chagas disease: recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi antigens for serological diagnosis

Diagnosis of individuals infected by Trypanosoma cruzi is performed mainly by serological tests using crude antigens, which might crossreact with othe r infections. In the past ten years, many recombinant T cruzi proteins and synthetic peptides have been described, and some are already on the market. Managers of laboratories and blood banks need to make decisions on a cost- benefit basis whether to include these new-generation tests. Here, we indic ate antigens that are likely to prove most useful.