In diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), which serological test uses a recombinant antigen rK39 and has highest sensitivity and specificity for field diagnosis in India?

• A Complement fixation test
• B Direct agglutination test (DAT)
• C rK39 immunochromatographic strip test ✓
• D Aldehyde (formol-gel) test

Explanation

The rK39 immunochromatographic (ICT) strip test using the recombinant kinesin-related antigen rK39 has sensitivity ~97% and specificity ~98% for visceral leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent and is the point-of-care test of choice under NVBDCP. DAT is sensitive but requires cold chain and serial dilutions. The aldehyde test (Napier's test) is non-specific, indicating hypergammaglobulinemia. Complement fixation is less sensitive and not used routinely.

Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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