Specificity of the Testryp CATT card agglutination test in a non-sleeping-sickness area of Africa
Bafort, J.M.; Schutte, C.H.; Gathiram, V.
South African Medical Journal 69(9): 541-542
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 3704869 Document Number: 280457
A card agglutination test (CATT), recently developed for the diagnosis of trypanosomiasis, was evaluated in various southern African localities. 179 blood specimens and 63 serum samples from, black patients of both sexes and widely ranging ages, suffering from a variety of generalized and parasitic disorders, were tested. False-positives were minimal (2.9%) and there were no cross-reactions with any of the parasitic infections. The CATT is therefore regarded as a highly specific and sensitive test, which can be performed effectively in the field by non-specialist personnel.