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Evaluation of enrichment method for the detection of V ibrio cholerae O 1 using a rapid dipstick test in B angladesh
Author(s) -
George Christine M.,
Rashid Mahamudur,
Sack David A.,
Bradley Sack R.,
SaifUrRahman K. M.,
Azman Andrew S.,
Monira Shirajum,
Bhuyian Sazzadul I.,
Zillur Rahman K. M.,
Toslim Mahmud M.,
Mustafiz Munshi,
Alam Munirul
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12252
Subject(s) - dipstick , gold standard (test) , vibrio cholerae , cholera , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , medicine , biology , bacteria , urine , genetics
Background To evaluate the specificity of the Crystal VC dipstick test for detecting cholera. Methods We compared direct testing using the Crystal VC dipstick test and testing after enrichment for 6 h in alkaline peptone water ( APW ) to bacterial culture as the gold standard. Samples positive by dipstick but negative by culture were also tested using PCR . Results Stool was collected from 125 patients. The overall specificities of the direct testing and testing after 6‐h enrichment in APW compared to bacterial culture were 91.8% and 98.4% ( P = 0.125), respectively, and the sensitivities were 65.6% and 75.0% ( P = 0.07), respectively. Conclusion The increase in the sensitivity of the Crystal VC kit with the use of the 6‐h enrichment step in APW compared to direct testing was marginally significant. The Crystal VC dipstick had a much higher specificity than previously reported (91–98%). Therefore, this method might be a promising screening tool for cholera outbreak surveillance in resource‐limited settings where elimination of false‐positive results is critical.