Comparing Tests for Borrelia Infection
Author Information
Author(s): Eskild Petersen, Martin Tolstrup, Francesco Capuano, Svend Ellermann-Eriksen
Primary Institution: Aarhus University Hospital Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark
Hypothesis
Borrelia-specific assays using recombinant antigens perform differently from assays based on purified flagella antigen.
Conclusion
Diagnostic assays based on flagella antigen show more false-positive IgM and false-negative IgG results than assays based on recombinant antigens.
Supporting Evidence
- The IDEIA™ system produced 21 false-positive IgM results, while the LIAISON® system produced only one.
- The LIAISON® system identified more true IgG-positive samples than the IDEIA™ system.
- The study included 357 consecutive samples for analysis of Borrelia IgM and IgG antibodies.
Takeaway
This study looked at two tests for a disease caused by Borrelia and found that one test is better at finding the disease without giving false alarms.
Methodology
The study compared the use of recombinant antigens and purified flagella antigen in assays for Borrelia-specific IgM and IgG antibodies on serum samples from general practice.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the selection of samples from general practice rather than from well-defined clinical cases.
Limitations
The study reflects results from unselected samples, which may not represent all clinical cases.
Participant Demographics
All patients were permanent residents in Denmark, with no selection based on sex or age.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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