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Table 2 Diagnostic methods

From: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the Mexican population

Diagnostic test

Fundament

Sensitivity

Specificity

Timeline

References

Skin test antigen (STA

Type IV cell-mediated hypersensitivity reaction against the T.gondii antigen.

80%

70%

1950-1951

[1619, 21, 49]

Sabin and Feldman Dye Test (SF).

The gold standard. A dye test in which the serum antibodies alter the staining pattern of the T. gondii tachyzoites.

96%

98%

1955-2005

[20, 22, 23, 37, 44, 46]

Complement Fixation Test (CF).

Antigen-antibody complexes are formed and detected by using a standard system with hemolisin and complement

97.1%

64.5%

1954-1982

[53]

Látex Flocculation Test (LF).

This test uses latex particles for antigen-antibody flocculation.

No reported.

1974

[35]

Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFI).

Tachyzoites are fixed on a slide and exposed to test serum, then washed and exposed to a standard antibody labeled with fluorescent dye.

95%

96%

1986 to date

[5, 25, 27, 28, 36, 38, 54]

Indirect Haemagglutination Test (IHA).

This test uses sheep red cells exposed to tannic acid and then to the soluble antigen fixed at 37 °C.

95%

96%

1972 to 1989

[24, 26]

Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA).

The ELISA detects T. gondii immunoglobulin IgG e IgM in serum and other body fluids with antibodies marked with peroxidase and fosfatase enzymes

100%

98.4%

1995 to date

[6, 7, 2934, 3943, 47, 48, 5052, 55, 56]