Frequently Asked Questions

Diagnostic tests are the include:  Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) - STATPAK: Used as a screening tool by MSF and control programs in the field.  HAI: indirect hemaglutination.  ELISA conventional.  ELISA recombinant: the difference with the ELISA conventional is the use of recombinant antigens instead of a purified one.  IFI: indirect immunofluorescence.

Diagnosis of Chagas is a complex procedure involving not a single test but a combination of several serological tests. Usually two initial tests are performed. If they disagree, a third serological test must be done in order to obtain a final diagnosis. The available diagnostics tests, with the exception of RDT STATPAK, are often not suitable for the poor, rural communities where Chagas disease is most commonly acquired. These communities lack the financial, physical and skilled human resources to conduct such tests. Shear distance from established testing sites is also often a barrier to access. Due to the lack of efficient diagnostics, the number of cases is assumed to be greatly underreported. Infections are usually discovered in the chronic phase, when treatment is most challenging. The research and development for new diagnostic tools has been limited.

An affordable, easy to use rapid diagnostic test with acceptable sensitivity and specificity is badly needed for Chagas disease. Such a test would make testing in every rural and remote location (without the need for existing laboratories and skilled lab technicians) possible. Currently available tests also need to be simplified, as the ELISA, HAI and IFI take approximately 2- 3 hours to obtain results and often require one lab technician to focus solely on Chagas diagnosis. In cases where this is not possible, patients do not get tested. There is an urgent need for laboratory research to identify new markers of Chagas and develop new technology specially related to the test of cure.