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Posted: 20th August 2018

New whole blood test for toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma gondii can be found in the faeces of infected cats.
Test could improve maternal-child health outcomes

A new low-cost whole blood test for toxoplasmosis has been developed by researchers at the University of Chicago.

In the study, researchers tested 205 people known to be infected with toxoplasmosis, including pregnant women. The blood was tested using reference tests, standard serum tests and the new whole-blood point of care (POC), obtained by finger stick.

They found that the whole blood test had a 100 per cent agreement with conventional testing and proved highly sensitive (100 per cent) and specific (100 per cent).  The scores also held true for women with lower levels of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies.

"Our work establishes a new point of care test in the outpatient setting at very low cost enabling diagnosis and prompt treatment for toxoplasma infections acquired for the first time during pregnancy,” the authors note.  

“This enables life, sight and cognition saving treatments. If combined with multiplexed testing for other congenital infections and markers associated with premature birth, it will markedly improve maternal-child outcomes and save lives."

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite can be found in undercooked contaminated meat or in the faeces of infected cats.

Transmission of toxoplasmosis from a mother to her unborn child can result in severe congenital problems and fetal death. As such, testing for the parasitic infection during pregnancy is critical.

Current tests for toxoplasmosis are serum tests, which require blood samples to be processed using infrastructure and technology. This can be prohibitive, however, in developing countries and unaffordable in developed countries like the United States.

The study, Rapid, inexpensive, fingerstick, whole-blood, sensitive, specific, point-of-care test for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, is published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.



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