TY - JOUR
KW - Chagas' disease
KW - Rapid diagnostic tests
KW - Equity in access to health services
AU - Lange K
AU - Marchiol A
AU - Herazo R
AU - Menes M
AU - Monroy C
AU - Rodas A
AU - Alcántara B
AU - Carrillo K
AU - Pinazo M
AB - <p><strong>Background</strong></p>

<p>Chagas disease remains a public health problem in Guatemala, with ongoing transmission, both regionally and globally. Diagnosis is complex and often inaccessible. This study evaluated the performance of rapid diagnostic tests for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Jutiapa.</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>Three rapid tests were performed, and the results were compared with those of a diagnostic algorithm for chronic infection.</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>Although all tests had high specificity, their sensitivities were suboptimal. The combined use of RDTs (Rapid Diagnostic Tests) slightly improved the sensitivity, but it remained below the ideal thresholds.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p>

<p>Further evaluation of RDTs is necessary to enhance access and simplify diagnostic algorithms.</p>

BT - Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
C1 - <p>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41036898</p>

DA - 01/2025
DO - 10.1590/0037-8682-0065-2025
J2 - Rev Soc Bras Med Trop
LA - eng
M3 - Article
N2 - <p><strong>Background</strong></p>

<p>Chagas disease remains a public health problem in Guatemala, with ongoing transmission, both regionally and globally. Diagnosis is complex and often inaccessible. This study evaluated the performance of rapid diagnostic tests for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Jutiapa.</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>Three rapid tests were performed, and the results were compared with those of a diagnostic algorithm for chronic infection.</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>Although all tests had high specificity, their sensitivities were suboptimal. The combined use of RDTs (Rapid Diagnostic Tests) slightly improved the sensitivity, but it remained below the ideal thresholds.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p>

<p>Further evaluation of RDTs is necessary to enhance access and simplify diagnostic algorithms.</p>

PY - 2025
SP - 1
EP - 5
T2 - Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
TI - Performance evaluation of rapid diagnostic tests for Chagas disease in Jutiapa, Guatemala.
UR - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12479034/pdf/1678-9849-rsbmt-58-e0065-2025.pdf
VL - 58
SN - 1678-9849
ER -