@article{fdi:010060878,
  title = {{F}alse positivity of non-targeted infections in malaria rapid diagnostic tests : the case of human {A}frican trypanosomiasis},
  author = {{G}illet, {P}. and {N}goyi, {D}. {M}. and {L}ukuka, {A}. and {K}ande, {V}. and {A}tua, {B}. and van {G}riensven, {J}. and {M}uyembe, {J}. {J}. and {J}acobs, {J}. and {L}ejon, {V}eerle},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {I}n endemic settings, diagnosis of malaria increasingly relies on the use of rapid diagnostic tests ({RDT}s). {F}alse positivity of such {RDT}s is poorly documented, although it is especially relevant in those infections that resemble malaria, such as human {A}frican trypanosomiasis ({HAT}). {W}e therefore examined specificity of malaria {RDT} products among patients infected with {T}rypanosoma brucei gambiense. {M}ethodology/{P}rincipal {F}indings: {B}lood samples of 117 {HAT} patients and 117 matched non-{HAT} controls were prospectively collected in the {D}emocratic {R}epublic of the {C}ongo. {R}eference malaria diagnosis was based on real-time {PCR}. {T}en commonly used malaria {RDT} products were assessed including three two-band and seven three-band products, targeting {HRP}-2, {P}f-p{LDH} and/or pan-p{LDH} antigens. {R}heumatoid factor was determined in {PCR} negative subjects. {S}pecificity of the 10 malaria {RDT} products varied between 79.5 and 100% in {HAT}-negative controls and between 11.3 and 98.8% in {HAT} patients. {F}or seven {RDT} products, specificity was significantly lower in {HAT} patients compared to controls. {F}alse positive reactions in {HAT} were mainly observed for pan-p{LDH} test lines (specificities between 13.8 and 97.5%), but also occurred frequently for the {HRP}-2 test line (specificities between 67.9 and 98.8%). {T}he {P}f-p{LDH} test line was not affected by false-positive lines in {HAT} patients (specificities between 97.5 and 100%). {F}alse positivity was not associated to rheumatoid factor, detected in 7.6% of controls and 1.2% of {HAT} patients. {C}onclusions/{S}ignificance: {S}pecificity of some malaria {RDT} products in {HAT} was surprisingly low, and constitutes a risk for misdiagnosis of a fatal but treatable infection. {O}ur results show the importance to assess {RDT} specificity in non-targeted infections when evaluating diagnostic tests.},
  keywords = {{AFRIQUE} ; {REPUBLIQUE} {DEMOCRATIQUE} {DU} {CONGO}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {7},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {e2180},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0002180},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010060878},
}