Dataset Information

Dried Blood Spots (DBS): A suitable alternative to using whole blood samples for diagnostic testing of visceral leishmaniasis in the post-elimination era.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Serum or whole blood collection, processing, transport and storage still present significant challenges in low resource settings where mass surveillance is required to sustain disease elimination. Therefore, in this study, we explored the diagnostic efficacy of dried blood spots (DBS) as a minimally invasive and potentially cost-effective alternative sampling technique to whole blood sampling procedures for subsequent detection of Leishmania donovani antibodies or DNA.

Methodology and principal findings

Archived serum, DNA samples from whole blood of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases and healthy controls, and DBS from corresponding cases and controls, were used. Both molecular and serological assays were optimized to detect L. donovani antibodies or DNA in DBS elute and results were compared against those obtained with whole blood. Serological assays (both rK28 ELISA and rK39 ELISA) of DBS samples showed sensitivity and specificity of 100% and had excellent agreement with results from whole blood samples (kappa value ranged from 0.98-1). Bland-Altman analysis of OD values from rK28-ELISA with DBS elute and patients' serum showed an excellent agreement (ICC = 0.9) whereas a good agreement (ICC = 0.8) was observed in the case of rK39-ELISA. However, qPCR and RPA of DBS samples had a diminished sensitivity of 76% and 68%, respectively, and poor agreement was observed with the whole blood samples.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that DBS offer excellent diagnostic efficiency for serological assays and represent a viable alternative to whole blood sampling procedures.

SUBMITTER: Ghosh P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10588855 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Dried Blood Spots (DBS): A suitable alternative to using whole blood samples for diagnostic testing of visceral leishmaniasis in the post-elimination era.

Ghosh Prakash P Chowdhury Rajashree R Rahat Md Abu MA Hossain Faria F Arpha Nur E NE Kristan Mojca M Higgins Matthew M El Wahed Ahmed Abd AA Goto Yasuyuki Y Islam M M Towhidul MMT Campino Susana S Cameron Mary M Duthie Malcom S MS Haque Rashidul R Mondal Dinesh D

PLoS neglected tropical diseases 20231020 10

<h4>Background</h4>Serum or whole blood collection, processing, transport and storage still present significant challenges in low resource settings where mass surveillance is required to sustain disease elimination. Therefore, in this study, we explored the diagnostic efficacy of dried blood spots (DBS) as a minimally invasive and potentially cost-effective alternative sampling technique to whole blood sampling procedures for subsequent detection of Leishmania donovani antibodies or DNA.<h4>Meth ...[more]

PMID: 37862287

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Project description:The scale-up of hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis and treatment requires affordable and simple tools to improve access to care, especially in low- and middle-income settings with limited infrastructure or high-risk populations. Dried blood and plasma samples (DBS and DPS) are useful alternative for hepatitis C detection in settings lacking adequate infrastructure. We evaluated the performance of DBS and DPS vs plasma in a point-of-care HCV RNA quantitative assay (Xpert HCV Viral Load-Cepheid), and compared HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) detection by the Architect HCV core antigen assay (Abbott) in DBS vs serum. The dried samples were stored at room temperature for different storage times to reproduce the time from sampling to testing in settings with centralized diagnosis or when testing mobile populations. HCV RNA quantification in DBS and DPS presented 100% sensitivity and specificity and a high correlation for up to 3 months of storage. HCV viremia showed a mean decrease of 0.5 log10 IU/mL (DBS) and 0.3 log10 IU/mL (DPS) for storage times up to 1 month. Architect HCVcAg detection presented high sensitivity/specificity (96%/100%) in DBS tested immediately after sampling, decreasing to 86% sensitivity after 7 days of storage. However, sensitivity increased when an optimized cut-off was applied for each storage time. We conclude that DBS and DPS are suitable samples for HCV RNA detection and quantification, being DPS more reliable for shorter storage times. DBS can be also used for HCVcAg qualitative detection and the sensitivity can be increased when adjusting the cut-off values. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C infection remains a global burden despite the effectiveness of antivirals. In the WHO roadmap to accomplish HCV elimination by 2030, HCV diagnosis is one of the main targets. However, identifying patients in resource-limited settings and high-risk populations with limited access to healthcare remains a challenge and requires innovative approaches that allow decentralized testing. The significance of our research is in verifying the good performance of dried samples for HCV diagnosis using two different diagnostics assays and considering the effect of room temperature storage in this sample format. We confirmed dried samples are an interesting alternative for HCV screening and reflex testing in resource-limited settings or high-risk populations.

Dataset Information

Dried Blood Spots (DBS): A suitable alternative to using whole blood samples for diagnostic testing of visceral leishmaniasis in the post-elimination era.

Background

Methodology and principal findings

Conclusion

Publications

Dried Blood Spots (DBS): A suitable alternative to using whole blood samples for diagnostic testing of visceral leishmaniasis in the post-elimination era.

Similar Datasets

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