Leishimania Antibody Rapid Test

Visceral leishmaniasis, or Kala-azar, is a disseminated infection caused by several subspecies of the L. donovani. The disease is estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to affect approximately 12 million people in 88 countries. It is transmitted to humans by bites of the Phlebotomus sandflies, which acquire infection from feeding on infected animals. Though it is a disease for poor countries, in Southern Europe, it has become the leading opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. Identification of L. donovani organism from the blood, bone marrow, liver, lymph nodes or the spleen provides a definite means of diagnosis. However, these test methods are limited by the sampling method and the special instrument requirement. Serological detection of anti-L. donovani Ab is found to be an excellent marker for the infection of Visceral leishmaniasis. Tests used in clinic include: ELISA, fluorescent antibody and direct agglutination tests. Recently, utilization of L. donovani specific protein in the test has improved the sensitivity and specificity dramatically. The Leishmania Ab Combo Rapid Test is a recombinant protein based serological test, which detects antibodies including IgG, IgM and IgA to the L. Donovani. This test provides a reliable result within 10 minutes without any instrumentation requirements.