T.cruzi Ab
Third generation Enzyme Immuno Assay (ELISA) for the determination of antibodies to Tripanosoma cruzi (Tc) in human plasma and sera. The kit may be used for the screening of blood units and the follow-up of Tc-infected patients.
Tripanosomes are flagellar protozoa known to infect humans and cause the Chaga’s disease (T.cruzi) and the Sleeping Sickness (T.brucei).
Chaga’s disease is mainly spread in south America countries but is known to be present also in south USA and some African regions.
The life cycle of T.cruzi requires both an animal reservoir (usually rodents) and an insect vector. In humans, proliferation of parasites occurs in organs such the heart and, early in the disease, also the peripheral blood (not proliferative).
Acute disease usually resolves without treatment; however chronic pathologies as myocardial defects, megacolon and megaesophagus may occur.
Microplates are coated with a mixture of T.cruzi specific recombinant antigens.
The solid phase is first treated with the diluted sample and T.cruzi Ab are captured, if present, by the antigens.
After washing out all the other components of the sample, in the 2nd incubation bound anti Tc antibodies are detected by the addition of polyclonal specific anti hIgG&M antibodies, labeled with peroxidase (HRP).
The enzyme captured on the solid phase, acting on the substrate/chromogen mixture, generates an optical signal that is proportional to the amount of anti Tc antibodies present in the sample. A cut-off value let optical densities be interpreted into T.cruzi antibody negative and positive results.
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