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Sensitivity and specificity of a commercial C6 peptide enzyme immuno assay in diagnosis of acute Lyme neuroborreliosis

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a commercial C6 enzyme immuno assay, QuickC6, in acute Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) in endemic areas. Paired sera and cerebral spinal fluids (CSFs) from 60 patients with definite LNB, eight patients with possible LNB, 18 patients with conditions mimicking LNB and 42 persons with noninfectious neurological disease were examined. The case definition of LNB was based on strict criteria during a prospective 4-month follow-up. The sensitivity of QuickC6 was 98% both in sera and CSFs, and the diagnostic specificity was 61% in sera and 88% in CSFs. QuickC6 is a sensitive, simple and cost-effective screening test in serum and CSF in diagnosis of acute LNB. Specificity needs further evaluation.

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Fig 1

Abbreviations

Bb antibodies:

antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid

EIA:

enzyme immuno assay

ITBb :

intrathecal production of borrelia antibodies

LNB:

Lyme neuroborreliosis

TBE:

tick-borne encephalitis

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Acknowledgement

The Research Department, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand and Helse Sør RHF, supported the work. We thank Randi Eikeland, Rune Midgard, Jan Schepel, Tormod Helås, Åse Berg and Odd Sættem for recruiting patients to the study and Pèter A. Csángó and Svein Gunnar Gundersen for carefully reviewing the manuscript. The Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics in Southern Norway gave ethical recommendation. The work was performed in compliance with current Norwegian laws.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology Unit, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Sørlandet Hospital HF, Service Box 416, 4604, Kristiansand, Norway

    T. Skarpaas & M. Søbye

  2. Department of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital HF, Service Box 416, 4604, Kristiansand, Norway

    U. Ljøstad & Å. Mygland

  3. Hospital of Rehabilitation, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway

    Å. Mygland

  4. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Å. Mygland

Authors
  1. T. Skarpaas
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  2. U. Ljøstad
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  3. M. Søbye
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  4. Å. Mygland
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Skarpaas.

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Skarpaas, T., Ljøstad, U., Søbye, M. et al. Sensitivity and specificity of a commercial C6 peptide enzyme immuno assay in diagnosis of acute Lyme neuroborreliosis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 26, 675–677 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0336-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0336-y

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