Point of care real-time polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic for Kyasanur forest disease. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Majumdar, Triparna; Shete, Anita; Yadav, Pragya; Patil, Savita; Mali, Deepak; Waghmare, Ashwini; Gawande, Pranita
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 108(2021)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 230
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Kyasanur forest disease -- Diagnosis -- Point of care test -- Real-time RT-PCR -- Validation; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) is an emerging public health problem in India. A point of care test was evaluated for its performance for KFD diagnosis. The test was highly sensitive and specific with a significant limit of detection. The test can be used in field and remote settings for rapid diagnosis of KFD. Abstract: Objectives: Due to the remote forest area locations of sporadic cases and outbreaks of Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), rapid diagnosis poses a significant challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Truenat KFD, a simple, rapid and user-friendly point-of-care test for detection of KFD and compare diagnostic accuracy with conventional real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Truenat KFD can be deployed in a field laboratory setting. Methods: The study involved 145 clinical specimens, including human serum, monkey necropsy tissues and tick pool, to validate Truenat KFD (Molbio Diagnostics Pvt.Ltd.) for KFD diagnosis. Results: We have optimized and validated the microchip-based Truenat KFD (Molbio Diagnostics Pvt.Ltd.) for KFD diagnosis. Point-of-care testing was highly sensitive and specific, with a detection limit of up to 10 copies of KFD viral RNA. Results were comparable with the gold-standard TaqMan and commercially available Altona RealStar AHFV / KFDV real-time RT-PCR assays. Screening results for human, monkey and tick specimens were 100% concordant across the assays. Conclusion: Truenat KFD(Molbio Diagnostics Pvt.Ltd.) was found to be highly sensitive and specific with a significant limit of detection. This point-of-care test would be useful in rapid diagnosis of KFD in remote and/or field settings, quick patient management and control of virus spread.