Chagas Disease Screening Using Point-of-Care Testing in an At-Risk Obstetric Population

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Lindsey E Zamora, Vanderbilt University; Federico Palacio, University of Cincinnati; Debra S Kozlowski, Emory University; Kamini Doraivelu, Emory University; Carolynn Dude, Emory University; Denise Jamieson, Emory University; Lisa Haddad, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-03-01
• Publisher: AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0517
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
• Volume: 104
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 959
• End Page: 963
• Keywords: WOMEN; Tropical Medicine; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Congenital transmission is the most important mode of transmission of Chagas disease (CD) in non-endemic countries. Identifying CD in reproductive-aged women is essential to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease to their children and offer treatment to women and their children, which could cure the disease. We evaluated the use of point-of-care (POC) testing for CD in postpartum patients. In our patient population, 16.7% (23/138) tested positive by POC testing, but confirmatory testing was negative for all patients. Among those considered high risk, 30% declined participation. Our results suggest limited utility of the point-of-care test used in our study and identify an opportunity for improvement to broaden diagnostic testing options. Our study also highlights the need to develop strategies to increase subject participation in future research.