We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Events

09 Apr 2024 - 12 Apr 2024
15 Apr 2024 - 17 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 - 26 Apr 2024

Serological Dipstick Assay Developed for Melioidosis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 05 Aug 2020
Print article
Image: The Melioidosis DS assay principle: A dipstick is placed into a well containing patient serum diluted in dipstick master mix (running buffer, detection antibody and control reagent) (Photo courtesy of Medical University of Graz).
Image: The Melioidosis DS assay principle: A dipstick is placed into a well containing patient serum diluted in dipstick master mix (running buffer, detection antibody and control reagent) (Photo courtesy of Medical University of Graz).
The Gram-negative environmental pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei, causes the severe disease melioidosis. It is highly endemic in southeast Asia and northern Australia, but recent studies suggest that it is also present in many other parts of the world where it is severely underreported.

The underreporting results from the extremely variable and non-specific clinical manifestations of the disease, lack of clinical recognition, and the global scarcity of good quality laboratories to allow diagnosis from microbiological culture. Early diagnosis of the disease is indispensable for an effective therapy, since B. pseudomallei is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics used for empirical treatment in endemic areas.

Medical microbiologists at the Medical University of Graz (Graz, Austria) and their international colleagues developed a dipstick assay, which was based on the detection of serum antibodies against four B. pseudomallei specific protein antigens. They evaluated their Melioidosis DS rapid test by using the same set of human serum samples that were previously characterized. The serum collection consisted of 75 sera from culture-confirmed melioidosis patients upon admission and 100 healthy controls. They also tested another 95 samples from Thailand on their dipsticks. These sera were previously classified as 55 false-negative or 40 false-positive on a heme carrier protein 1 (Hcp1) based lateral flow assay. Twenty-eight of the false-positive sera were drawn from healthy individuals and 12 from patients suffering from other kinds of infections.

The investigators reported that their 4-plex dipstick was validated with sera from 75 patients on admission plus control groups, achieving 92% sensitivity and 97% to 100% specificity. They then re-evaluated melioidosis sera with the 4-plex assay that were previously misclassified by the monoplex Hcp1 rapid test. They found that 12/55 (21.8%) false-negative samples were positive in the new dipstick assay. Among those, four sera (7.3%) were Hcp1 positive, whereas eight (14.5%) sera remained Hcp1 negative but gave a positive reaction with their additional antigens.

The authors concluded that the dipstick rapid test represents an inexpensive, standardized and simple diagnostic tool with an improved serodiagnostic performance due to multiplex detection. Each additional band on the test strip makes a false-positive result more unlikely, contributing to its reliability. The study was published on July 13, 2020 in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Related Links:
Medical University of Graz

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
HLX
POCT Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer
FIA Go
New
Gold Member
Magnetic Bead Separation Modules
MAG and HEATMAG

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: MOF materials efficiently enrich cfDNA and cfRNA in blood through simple operational process (Photo courtesy of Science China Press)

Blood Circulating Nucleic Acid Enrichment Technique Enables Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Diagnosis

The ability to diagnose diseases early can significantly enhance the effectiveness of clinical treatments and improve survival rates. One promising approach for non-invasive early diagnosis is the use... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The OvaCis Rapid Test discriminates benign from malignant epithelial ovarian cysts (Photo courtesy of INEX)

Intra-Operative POC Device Distinguishes Between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Cysts within 15 Minutes

Ovarian cysts represent a significant health issue for women globally, with up to 10% experiencing this condition at some point in their lives. These cysts form when fluid collects within a thin membrane... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.