Evaluation of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis

The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were assessed in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis in two groups of school children, one attending a rural school where schistosomiasis is highly prevalent, the other attending a school in an urban locality where schistosomiasis is absent. The results showed that the ELISA had a sensitivity of 92.2% and 100% in Schistosoma mansoni and mixed infection, respectively. The specificity of the test increased from 92.1% to 98% when a fourth stool examination was done in cases giving false positive results. ELISA positively was significantly increased with the increase in egg count till it reached 100% in cases with 160 eggs per gram stools.