Valoración comparativa de pruebas serodiagnósticas utilizadas para detectar enfermedad de Chagas en Venezuela

the comparative evaluation of conventional serologic methods (dat, ifat, elisa) and commercial tests (pharmatest？, chagatest elisa？, chagatest elisa recombinant v.3.0？, test elisa for chagas iii？, chagas stat paktm assay？) commonly used to detect chagas disease is presented. sera samples were taken from chagasic patients and controls from different rural localities of western venezuela. statistical comparison of the sensitivity and specificity level, revealed no-significant differences among methods (p > 0.05). to warrant a secure sero-diagnosis the implementation of a routine and a confirmatory test is suggested. the cost-benefit analysis showed significant differences among methods, suggesting its use according to the condition of each diagnostic center. considering the results obtained in the present study a combination of candidate tests is proposed to be used either as a routine or confirmatory method according to the circumstances. the effect of thermo-shock on the loss of reactivity of a commercial test is demonstrated.