Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), also known as Kala-azar, is a vector‐borne parasitic disease that is nearly always fatal if left untreated. Protozoa of the leishmania complex cause an obligate intra‐ macrophage infection. The clinical syndrome is characterized by fever, weight loss, splenomegaly,
lymphadenopathy, and hepatomegaly. It is one of the world’s most neglected diseases, largely affecting the poorest people, mainly in developing countries. It is endemic in 60 countries and some 500,000 new cases occur annually, though 90% of all reported cases occur in just 6 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Sudan. The disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected phlebotomine sandfly.
Lateral flow immuno‐ chromatographic tests (ICT), commonly referred to as rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). The first ICT was based on a 39‐amino‐ acid‐repeat recombinant leishmanial antigen from L. chagasi (rK39) and was seen as a potential breakthrough allowing user and patient-friendly, rapid diagnosis in peripheral health care settings. The initial validation study of an rK39 ICT
(Arista Biologicals, Allentown, PA, USA) reported 100% sensitivity and 98%
specificity in an Indian setting when combined with a strict clinical case definition. However, an RDT from the same manufacturer evaluated in Sudan showed only 67% sensitivity.
The Kala-azar Detect Test for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a rapid immunochromatographic strip assay for the qualitative detection of antibodies to members of Leishmania donovani (L-D body) in human serum to aid in the presumptive diagnosis of visceral eishmaniasis.
Test kit contains
Extra we need-
Only one band at control region: Test negative
Both bands at the control and test regions: Test Positive
No band at all or band only at test region: Test invalid, in this condition, repeat the test using a new test cassette (device)
Impression: Our test is positive due to having both bands at the control and test regions as shown above picture.