Scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion.

A review was performed to determine the evidence base for scrub typhus indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) methodologies and the criteria for positive results. This review included a total of 109 publications, which comprised 123 eligible studies for analysis (14 publications included 2 substudi...

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Main Authors: Blacksell, S, Bryant, N, Paris, D, Doust, J, Sakoda, Y, Day, N
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2007
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author Blacksell, S
Bryant, N
Paris, D
Doust, J
Sakoda, Y
Day, N
author_facet Blacksell, S
Bryant, N
Paris, D
Doust, J
Sakoda, Y
Day, N
author_sort Blacksell, S
collection OXFORD
description A review was performed to determine the evidence base for scrub typhus indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) methodologies and the criteria for positive results. This review included a total of 109 publications, which comprised 123 eligible studies for analysis (14 publications included 2 substudies). There was considerable underreporting of the IFA methodology and seropositivity criteria used, with most studies using a defined cutoff titer rather than an increase in the titer in paired samples. The choice of positivity cutoff titer varied by country and purpose of the IFA test. This variation limits the comparability of seroprevalence rates between studies and, more seriously, raises questions about the appropriateness of the cutoffs for positive IFA results chosen for diagnosis of acute scrub typhus infection. We suggest that the diagnosis of scrub typhus using IFA should be based on a > or =4-fold increase in the titer in paired serum samples and should only be based on a single sample titer when there is an adequate local evidence base.
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spelling oxford-uuid:9b407f76-d9d1-4040-899c-d92776e845f32022-03-27T00:27:29ZScrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:9b407f76-d9d1-4040-899c-d92776e845f3EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2007Blacksell, SBryant, NParis, DDoust, JSakoda, YDay, NA review was performed to determine the evidence base for scrub typhus indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) methodologies and the criteria for positive results. This review included a total of 109 publications, which comprised 123 eligible studies for analysis (14 publications included 2 substudies). There was considerable underreporting of the IFA methodology and seropositivity criteria used, with most studies using a defined cutoff titer rather than an increase in the titer in paired samples. The choice of positivity cutoff titer varied by country and purpose of the IFA test. This variation limits the comparability of seroprevalence rates between studies and, more seriously, raises questions about the appropriateness of the cutoffs for positive IFA results chosen for diagnosis of acute scrub typhus infection. We suggest that the diagnosis of scrub typhus using IFA should be based on a > or =4-fold increase in the titer in paired serum samples and should only be based on a single sample titer when there is an adequate local evidence base.
spellingShingle Blacksell, S
Bryant, N
Paris, D
Doust, J
Sakoda, Y
Day, N
Scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion.
title Scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion.
title_full Scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion.
title_fullStr Scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion.
title_full_unstemmed Scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion.
title_short Scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion.
title_sort scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion
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