Detailed description
Chagas disease is an insect-borne, zoonotic infection by the protozoan T. cruzi, which causes a systemic infection of humans with acute manifestations and long term sequelae. It is estimated that 16-18 million individuals are infected worldwide, and roughly 50,000 people die each year from chronic Chagas disease (World Health Organization). Buffy coat examination and xenodiagnosis used to be the most commonly methods in the diagnosis of acute T. cruzi infection. However, both methods are either time consuming or lack of sensitivity. Recently, serological test becomes the mainstay in the diagnosis of Chagas’s disease. In particularly, recombinant antigen based tests eliminate false-positive reactions which are commonly seen in the native antigen tests. The Chagas Ab Combo Rapid Test is an instant antibody test which detects IgG antibodies the T. cruzi within 15 minutes without any instrument requirements. By utilizing T. cruzi specific recombinant antigen, the test is highly sensitive and specific.