Acceptance and potential barriers to effective use of diagnostic tests for visceral leishmaniasis in an urban area in Brazil

• Main Authors: Tália Machado de Assis, Paloma Nogueira Guimarães, Edward Oliveira, Vanessa Peruhype-Magalhães, Luciana Inácia Gomes, Ana Rabello
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2016-04-01
• Series: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Subjects: Acceptance; Diagnostic tests; Visceral leishmaniasis
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822016000200241&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Acceptance of the IT LEISH(r) and direct agglutination test- made in the Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas (DAT-LPC) by healthcare professionals and patients suspected of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Ribeirão das Neves was evaluated. METHODS: Ninety-two patients and 47 professionals completed three questionnaires. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (96%) patients considered fingertip blood collection a positive test feature, and 86% (37) and 91% of professionals considered the IT LEISH(r) easy to perform and interpret, respectively. All professionals classified the DAT-LPC as simple and easy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and healthcare professionals in Ribeirão das Neves demonstrated a high degree of acceptance of the IT LEISH(r) and DAT-LPC.