Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32498284›Full record

ArticlePathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2020

Comparison of Diagnostic Tests for

An Hotterbeekx, Jolien Perneel, Michel Mandro, Germain Abhafule, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Alfred Dusabimana, Steven Abrams, Samir Kumar-Singh, Robert Colebunders

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 32 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. A Novel BiplexDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. AssessingPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023
    Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

An HotterbeekxGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-3356-4032
Jolien PerneelGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
Michel MandroProvincial Health Division Ituri, Ministry of Health, Bunia 185 DRC 57, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Germain AbhafuleCentre de Recherche en Maladies Tropicales, Rethy Box 143, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Joseph Nelson Siewe FodjoGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-3544-1239
Alfred DusabimanaGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-2660-880X
Steven AbramsGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-7353-9304
Samir Kumar-SinghMolecular Pathology Group, Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
Robert ColebundersGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-1919-1340
University of Antwerp · BEMinistry of Public Health · CD

Funding

European Research Council ERC 671055
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Onchocerciasis is diagnosed by detecting microfilariae in skin snips or by detecting OV16 IgG4 antibodies in blood by either enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Here, we compare the sensitivity and specificity of these three tests in persons with epilepsy living in an onchocerciasis endemic region in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Skin snips and blood samples were collected from 285 individuals for onchocerciasis diagnosis. Three tests were performed: the OV16 RDT (SD Bioline) and the OV16 ELISA both on serum samples, and microscopic detection of microfilariae in skin snips. The sensitivity and specificity of each test was calculated with the combined other tests as a reference. Microfilariae were present in 105 (36.8%) individuals, with a median of 18.5 (6.5-72.0) microfilariae/skin snip. The OV16 RDT and OV16 ELISA were positive in, respectively, 112 (39.3%) and 143 (50.2%) individuals. The OV16 ELISA had the highest sensitivity among the three tests (83%), followed by the OV16 RDT (74.8%) and the skin snip (71.4%). The OV16 RDT had a higher specificity (98.6%) compared to the OV16 ELISA (84.8%). Our study confirms the need to develop more sensitive tests to ensure the accurate detection of ongoing transmission before stopping elimination efforts.

Indexed as

antibodiesdiagnosisepilepsymicrofilariaeOnchocerca volvulusonchocerciasisOV16 testing

Identifiers

PMID32498284
PMCPMC7350314
OpenAlexW3034127176

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.