Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a leading identified cause of encephalitis in Asia, often occurring in rural areas with poor access to laboratory diagnostics. We evaluated two rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for anti-JEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) detection. Methods: Consecutive cerebrospinal fluid and serum from 388 patients (704 samples) with suspected JEV infections admitted to six hospitals in Laos were tested with one of two SD-Bioline anti-JEV IgM RDTs and the World Health Organization standard anti-JEV IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Panbio Japanese Encephalitis-Dengue IgM Combo ELISA. Results and Conclusions: The performance of both RDTs showed strikingly low sensitivity in comparison to anti-JEV IgM antibody capture ELISA (2.1-51.4%), suggesting low sensitivity of the RDTs. We highlight the fundamental prerequisite to validate RDTs prior to use to ensure that they meet standards for testing.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/trstmh/trx067

Type

Journal article

Journal

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg

Publication Date

01/08/2017

Volume

111

Pages

373 - 377

Keywords

Central nervous system infection, Immunoassays, Japanese encephalitis virus, Laos, Rapid diagnostic tests, South-East Asia, Adolescent, Adult, Antibodies, Viral, Cerebrospinal Fluid, Child, Child, Preschool, Chromatography, Affinity, Encephalitis Virus, Japanese, Encephalitis, Japanese, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin M, Laos, Male, Reproducibility of Results, Young Adult