ACTIVITY 3

Question 1

Give the 5 Recent Advances in the Diagnosis of Parasitic Infections

Answer 1

1. Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
2. Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs)
3. Direct immunofluorescence (DFA)
4. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
5. Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay

Question 2

Purpose of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Answer 2

It is used to detect the presence of antibodies or antigens in a patient’s blood or other body fluids. It’s commonly used to diagnose infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and some cancers.

Question 3

It is used to detect the presence of antibodies or antigens in a patient’s blood or other body fluids. It’s commonly used to diagnose infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and some cancers.

Answer 3

Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Question 4

Advantages of ELISA

Answer 4

• highly sensitive and specific test
• relatively easy and inexpensive test to perform
• widely used diagnostic tool.

Question 5

Disadvantage of ELISA

Answer 5

• it can produce false-positive results which can lead to unnecessary treatment or further testing.

Question 6

used to quickly diagnose infectious diseases, such as malaria, HIV, and influenza. They work by detecting the presence of specific antibodies or antigens in a patient’s blood or other body fluids.

Answer 6

Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs)

Question 7

Purpose of RDTs

Answer 7

used to quickly diagnose infectious diseases, such as malaria, HIV, and influenza. They work by detecting the presence of specific antibodies or antigens in a patient’s blood or other body fluids.

Question 8

Advantages of RDTs

Answer 8

• RDTs are fast, easy to use,
• can provide results within minutes.
• They don’t require specialized equipment or trained personnel

Question 9

Disadvantage of RDTs

Answer 9

• less sensitive and specific than other diagnostic tests,
• false-negative or
• false-positive results.

Question 10

used to detect the presence of specific antigens or antibodies in a patient’s body fluids, such as blood or urine. It’s commonly used to diagnose viral infections, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Answer 10

Direct immunofluorescence (DFA)

Question 11

Purpose of Direct immunofluorescence (DFA)

Answer 11

used to detect the presence of specific antigens or antibodies in a patient’s body fluids, such as blood or urine. It’s commonly used to diagnose viral infections, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Question 12

Advantages of Direct immunofluorescence (DFA)

Answer 12

• DFA is a fast and highly sensitive test
• can provide accurate results within a few hours.
• widely used in clinical laboratories.

Question 13

Disadvantage of Direct immunofluorescence (DFA)

Answer 13

• DFA is a labor-intensive test
• requires skilled personnel and specialized equipment
• more expensive than other diagnostic tests.

Question 14

used to detect the presence of viral RNA or DNA in a patient’s body fluids, such as blood or saliva. It’s commonly used to diagnose infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, influenza, and HIV.

Answer 14

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Question 15

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Answer 15

used to detect the presence of viral RNA or DNA in a patient’s body fluids, such as blood or saliva. It’s commonly used to diagnose infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, influenza, and HIV.

Question 16

Advantages of Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Answer 16

• RT-PCR is a highly sensitive and specific test
• can detect even low levels of viral RNA or DNA
• It’s also a relatively fast test that can provide results within a few hours

Question 17

Disadvantage of Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Answer 17

• RT-PCR is a complex and expensive
• requires specialized equipment and trained personnel
• It can also produce false-negative results if the viral load is too low.

Question 18

is used to detect the presence of viral or bacterial DNA in a patient’s body fluids, such as blood or urine. It’s commonly used to diagnose infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and malaria.

Answer 18

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay

Question 19

Purpose of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay

Answer 19

is used to detect the presence of viral or bacterial DNA in a patient’s body fluids, such as blood or urine. It’s commonly used to diagnose infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and malaria.

Question 20

Advantages of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay

Answer 20

• The LAMP assay is a fast and highly sensitive test
• relatively simple test to perform
• ideal for use in low-resource settings.

Question 21

Disadvantage of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay

Answer 21

• The LAMP assay can produce false-positive results
• contamination of the sample or reagents is
  possible.
• requires specialized equipment

Question 22

Give one (1) available Rapid Diagnostic Kit for a parasite

Answer 22

The BinaxNOW Malaria Test is a rapid diagnostic kit that detects Plasmodium antigens in blood and provides results in 15 minutes. It’s commonly used in resource-limited settings, has high sensitivity and specificity, and is approved by the WHO for malaria diagnosis.

Question 23

Discuss the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of parasitic infection.

Answer 23

Early and accurate diagnosis of parasitic infections is critical for timely treatment, guiding appropriate treatment, preventing transmission, and informing public health interventions. It can prevent disease progression and reduce the risk of complications, and help to prevent the spread of the infection to others. Accurate diagnosis can also inform public health policies and interventions to better manage and control parasitic infections.