TruQuick™ Chagas
TruQuick Chagas is a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of IgG anti-T. cruzi in serum, plasma or whole blood. It is intended to be used as a screening test and as an aid in the diagnosis of infection with T. cruzi.
Chagas disease is an insect-borne, zoonotic infection by the protozoan T. cruzi, which causes a systemic infection of humans with acute manifestations and long term sequelae. It is estimated that 16-18 million individuals are infected worldwide, and roughly 50,000 people die each year from chronic Chagas disease (World Health Organization).1
Buffy coat examination and xenodiagnosis used to be the most commonly used methods2, 3 in the diagnosis of acute T. cruzi infection. However, both methods are either time consuming or lack of sensitivity. Recently, serological testing has become the mainstay in the diagnosis of Chagas’s disease. In particular recombinant antigen-based tests eliminate false-positive reactions which are commonly seen in the native antigen tests.4-5
TruQuick Chagas is a rapid antibody test which detects IgG antibodies to T. cruzi within 15 minutes without any instrument requirements. By utilizing T. cruzi-specific recombinant antigen, the test is highly sensitive and specific.
- Bring the pouch to room temperature before opening it. Remove the Test Cassette from the sealed pouch and use it as soon as possible. Best results will be obtained if the assay is performed within one hour.
- Place the cassette on a clean and level surface.
- For Serum or Plasma specimen: Hold the dropper vertically and transfer 1 drop of serum or plasma (approximately 25 μL) to the specimen area, then add 2 drops of Buffer (approximately 80 μL) and start the timer. See illustration below.
- For Venipuncture Whole Blood specimen: Hold the dropper vertically and transfer 2 drops of whole blood (approximately 50 μL) to the specimen area, then add 2 drops of Buffer (approximately 80 μL) and start the timer. See illustration below. For Fingerstick Whole Blood specimen:
- To use a capillary tube: Fill the capillary tube and transfer approximately 50 μL of fingerstick whole blood specimen to the specimen area of Test Cassette, then add 2 drops of Buffer (approximately 80 μL) and start the timer. See illustration below.
- To use hanging drops: Allow 2 hanging drops of fingerstick whole blood specimen (approximately 50 μL) to fall into the specimen area of Test Cassette, then add 2 drops of Buffer (approximately 80 μL) and start the timer. See illustration below.
- Wait for the colored line(s) to appear. The test result should be read at 15 minutes. Do not interpret the result after 20 minutes.
- WHO. Control of Chagas disease: report of a WHO expert committee. 1991.
- Frasch ACC, Reyes MB, Sanchez DO. Diagnosis of Chagas disease: present and future. In: Chagas disease and the nervous system. Washington, DC: pan AHO. 1994:47-53.
- Frasch AC, Reyes MB. Diagnosis of Chagas disease using recombinant DNA technology. Parasitol Today. 1990;6(4):137-9.
- Lorca M, Gonzalez A, Reyes V, Veloso C, Vergara U, Frasch C. The diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease using recombinant antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi. Rev Med Chil. 1993;121(4):363-8.
- da Silveira JF, Umezawa ES, Luquetti AO. Chagas disease: recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi antigens for serological diagnosis. Trends Parasitol. 2001;17(6):286-91.