Evaluation of the ICT whole blood antigen card test to detect infection due to nocturnally periodic Wuchereria bancrofti in South India

The commercially available ICT Card Test for bancroftian filariasis was evaluated for its sensitivity and specificity in detecting microfilaria carriers among 189 individuals each in filariasis-endemic and nonendemic areas in South India, and compared to both conventional night blood finger prick thick blood smear examination and venous blood membrane filtration. Though the specificity of the test was 100% in comparison to both, the sensitivity was 98.5% against the finger prick thick blood smear and 71.9 compared to the membrane filtration technique. Similarly, the positive predictive value was 100% against both techniques, but the negative predictive values were 99.5% against the finger prick thick blood smear and 88.3% compared to the membrane filtration technique. The rest's lower sensitivity compared to the filtration technique requires further investigation.