UNSPECIFIED. (1998) A comparison of oral fluid and serum for the detection of rubella-specific antibodies in a community study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH, 3 (4). pp. 258-267. ISSN 1360-2276

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE To assess the utility of oral fluid compared with serum for the determination of age-prevalence of rubella-specific antibodies in an urban African community setting.

METHOD Paired serum and oral fluid samples were collected from 439 individuals aged 0-49 years in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia, as part of a larger seroepidemiological survey in 1994. Oral fluid was sampled using a simple sponge device that was well accepted by subjects of all ages; venous blood was collected by Vacutainer system. We measured rubella-specific antibodies in serum by the Radial Haemolysis (RH) test, supported by two confirmatory assays, and in oral fluid by IgG antibody-capture radioimmunoassay (GACRIA).

RESULTS Sensitivity and specificity of oral fluid results compared to serum were 89% and 76%, respectively. Sensitivity declined from 96% in age group 0-19 years to 90% in age group 20-29 and 78% in age group 30-49. Specificity was 86% in 0-9 year olds contrasting with 61% in older groups (10-49 years). The positive predictive value of an oral fluid sample was high in all age groups (range 97-100%), while the negative predictive value declined from greater than or equal to 80% in those aged <10 years to <10% in those aged greater than or equal to 30 years. Serum confirmatory tests suggested a proportion of false serum RH negatives, increasing with age, indicating a need to standardize serum as well as oral fluid tests.

CONCLUSION In the community setting of a developing country, oral fluid surveys could be useful to estimate age-prevalence of rubella immunity and identify rubella-susceptible children for follow-up. Further work is required to simplify assays and sample processing, improve assay sensitivity and estimate assay specificity more precisely and compare and standardise collection methods suitable for surveillance of a variety of childhood viral infections.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Journal or Publication Title:	TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
Publisher:	BLACKWELL SCIENCE LTD
ISSN:	1360-2276
Official Date:	April 1998
Dates:	Date Event April 1998 UNSPECIFIED
Volume:	3
Number:	4
Number of Pages:	10
Page Range:	pp. 258-267
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/15722

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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