MODIFIED INDIRECT HEMAGGLUTINATION TEST FOR DETECTION OF TREPONEMAL ANTIBODIES IN FINGER-PRICK BLOOD

A modified indirect hemagglutination test for the detection of treponemal antibodies was developed for use with finger-prick blood. By using paired serum and absorbed finger-prick blood from 58 patients from an area previously endemic for yaws and 12 patients without yaws, the modified hemagglutination test was compared with a hemagglutination test for Treponema pallidium and the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test. The modified hemagglutination test showed 100% specificity and an overall agreement of 96.5% with the hemagglutination test for T. pallidum and 94.8% with the fluorescent treponemal antibody test. The modified hemagglutination test appears to be a simple and economical test that is suitable for use in large epidemiological surveys for yaws.