Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42404702›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in parasitology2026

A multi-site laboratory evaluation of the MEDSCAN application for automated POC-CCA interpretation.

Thomas F Scherr, Pytsje T Hoekstra, Theresia Abdoel, Carson P Moore, Austin Hardcastle, Matthew Boisse, Boaz Mulonga, Kennedy Andiego, George Ogara, Gladys Odhiambo and 11 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in parasitology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

21 authors.

Thomas F ScherrDepartment of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Pytsje T HoekstraLeiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Theresia AbdoelMondial Diagnostics, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Carson P MooreDepartment of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Austin HardcastleDepartment of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Matthew BoisseDepartment of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Boaz MulongaCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Kennedy AndiegoCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
George OgaraCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Gladys OdhiamboCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Fredrick RawagoCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Nicholas SpurlockDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Alexandrea A HowardDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Megan E PaskDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Eline M van DamLeiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Govert J van DamLeiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Chris HoBig Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Goylette F ChamiBig Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Frederick HaseltonDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Maurice R OdiereCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
David WrightDepartment of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Control efforts against schistosomiasis are hampered by the subjective interpretation of the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) urine test, which limits diagnostic consistency. We developed MEDSCAN (Mobile-Enabled Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control Analytics), a mobile application that uses smartphone imaging and computer vision to automate POC-CCA interpretation. Methods: In a multi-site laboratory evaluation across the USA, the Netherlands, and Kenya, we compared MEDSCAN to visual G-Score interpretation and a benchtop lateral flow reader (LFR). Results: All three methods produced clear concentration-response relationships, with normalized machine-based metrics achieving AUROC ≥ 0.90. MEDSCAN demonstrated excellent inter-user reproducibility (intra-class correlation coefficients exceeding 0.94) and substantial agreement with both visual and LFR interpretations across sites. Some device-to-device variability was observed, attributable to differences in smartphone camera hardware and image processing; however, binary diagnostic outcomes remained robust across a heterogeneous set of smartphones. Discussion: These results establish operational positivity thresholds for MEDSCAN-based on test-line signal alone or normalized metrics-suitable for direct implementation in field surveillance workflows. A large-scale field study is underway to evaluate MEDSCAN under routine POC-CCA surveillance conditions in endemic settings.

Indexed as

computer visiondigital healthdisease surveillancelateral flow assaymobile health (mHealth)POC-CCAschistosomiasissmartphone-based diagnostics

Identifiers

PMID42404702
PMCPMC13329796

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.