[Development of a multiantigenic serological test for tuberculosis diagnosis]. / Utilidad de una prueba serológica multiantigénica en el diagnóstico de tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present work evaluated a multi-antigen printing immunoassay (MAPIA) for the serological diagnosis of tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sera were obtained from 66 patients with tuberculosis, verified clinically and bacteriologically and from 47 healthy individuals (control group). Sample sera were used for detection of antibodies against 3 enriched mixtures of proteins and 5 unique recombinant antigens. The antigens were presented in a solid matrix. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were evaluated and confirmed by a logistic regression analysis. A prevalence value was calculated and used for the selection of the best antigenic combination. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity values of individual antigens varied between 5-83% and 9-100%. The enriched mixtures values were more accurate than those obtained with the recombinant antigens. Combinations of several antigens improved the sensitivity values up to the 81% level. In most cases, specificity values of 57% or less were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the multiantigenic test can be a useful screening tool, to be used in conjunction with the more definitive diagnostic tests.