METHODS: The test device was assembled with purified 31-kDa glycoprotein as diagnostic antigen and with gold-labelled anti-human immunoglublin-G as the detector reagent. A total of 97 serum samples were tested - 19 samples from clinically diagnosed patients with detectable A. cantonensis-specific antibody in immunoblotting; 43 samples from patients with other parasitic diseases, i.e. gnathostomiasis (n=13), toxocariasis (n=2), trichinellosis (n=2), hookworm infection (n=4), filariasis (n=5), cysticercosis (n=9), paragonimiasis (n=2), opisthorchiasis (n=3), and malaria (n=3); and 35 samples from normal healthy subjects.
RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of AcQuickDx Test to detect anti-A. cantonensis specific antibodies in serologically confirmed angiostrongyliasis cases, were 100%, 98.72%, 95% and 100%, respectively. Positive AcQuickDx was observed in 1 of 4 cases with hookworm infections. No positive AcQuickDx was observed in cases with other parasitic diseases, and the individual healthy subjects.
CONCLUSIONS: AcQuickDx Test is rapid, highly sensitive and specific, and easy to perform without additional equipment or ancillary supplies. It yields results that are interpreted visually, and possesses a long shelf-life at room temperature. Thus, it can be applied as an additional test for clinical diagnostic support of angiostrongyliasis either in conventional laboratories or for remote areas where laboratory infrastructure is not available.