Abstract

CAMPOS-FUENTES, Erick  and  CALVO-FONSECA, Nidia. Diagnostic confirmation of Chagas disease screening in Costa Rica. Rev. costarric. salud pública [online]. 2013, vol.22, n.1, pp.04-08. ISSN 1409-1429.

In Costa Rica, screening is performed for Chagas disease in 100 % of blood donations. During the 2008-2011 period a total of 251 919 blood donors were screened. Materials and Methods: In this period, the Chagas Laboratory of the Centro Nacional de Referencia en Parasitología of INCIENSA received 3 630 serum samples for diagnostic confirmation. In each serum, three serological tests were performed with different sources of antigen (recombinant ELISA, lysate ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence). Furthermore we investigated the agreement between the results of the screening with those of CNRP. Results: The majority of positive donors for Chagas disease were in the age range of 41-50 years (28,7 %). For the concordance analysis only 3 166 samples were considered, 92,7 % of the specimens received were consistent with the results of CNRP. Of 3 630 samples received, 4,6 % were positive for Chagas disease (prevalence in blood banks of 0,07 %). Most confirmed cases came from the provinces of San José and Heredia. Discussion: The relatively low value observed in the PPV (82,0 %) is related to the low prevalence of the disease in the country. Origin of most patients from the provinces of San José and Heredia agree with the presence of risk areas for transmission of the disease. The low prevalence of Chagas disease in Costa Rica is concordant with previous studies.

Keywords : Chagas Disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; Blood Banks; Screening.

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