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A fourteen-year study to identify measles antigen in urine specimens by fluorescent-antibody methods
Abstract:
Between 1965 and 1979 inclusive, 426 morning urine specimens from 410 patients admitted to hospital with the provisional diagnosis of measles were tested for measles antigen by fluorescent-antibody methods. One hundred and forty-two specimens (33.3 per cent) were positive. Of 74 patients who were clinically assessed not to have measles, 6/77 specimens (7.8 per cent) gave false positive results, and 71/77 (92.2 per cent) gave true negative results. Three hundred and forty-nine urine specimens were tested from 336 patients clinically judged to have had measles and 136 of these specimens (39 per cent) were positive. The positive rate was highest in a small number of specimens taken before the rash and next highest at the onset of the rash. The positive rate then fell; it rose again near the end of the first week, but the further increased positive rate after that time was associated with very small numbers of specimens. Of 12 child contacts of measles, 5/12 (41.67 per cent) had positive urine specimens and one of them developed measles two days after sampling. None of the seven patients with negative urine specimens developed measles. Measles antigen was detected in urine sediment by fluorescent-antibody tests in 39 per cent of the patients with measles studied.
Insights
This study found that measles antigen in urine, detected by fluorescent-antibody tests, was present in 39% of measles patients. This urine test shows promise for diagnosing measles, especially when samples are collected early.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Measles is a highly contagious viral illness.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis of measles is crucial for public health management and patient care.
- Current diagnostic methods may have limitations in certain settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of detecting measles antigen in urine using fluorescent-antibody methods for measles diagnosis.
- To determine the prevalence of measles antigen in urine samples from patients with suspected measles.
- To assess the diagnostic utility of urine testing in relation to clinical presentation and disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 426 morning urine specimens from 410 patients with a provisional diagnosis of measles between 1965 and 1979.
- Application of fluorescent-antibody methods to detect measles antigen in urine sediment.
- Comparison of urine test results with clinical assessments and subsequent disease development.
Main Results:
- Measles antigen was detected in 33.3% of all tested urine specimens.
- In patients clinically diagnosed with measles, 39% of urine specimens tested positive.
- False positive results were observed in 7.8% of specimens from patients not diagnosed with measles.
- Positive rates were highest in samples collected before or at the onset of the rash.
Conclusions:
- Detection of measles antigen in urine sediment by fluorescent-antibody tests is a viable diagnostic approach, with a 39% positive rate in confirmed measles cases.
- Urine testing shows potential as a diagnostic tool for measles, particularly when specimens are obtained early in the disease course.
- Further research could explore optimizing urine sample collection timing and refining the sensitivity of fluorescent-antibody tests for broader clinical application.