Efficiency of detection of leprosy infection by PGL-1 (Phenolic glycolipid 1) Rapid flow test compared with Slit skin smear in clinical diagnosed patients and contact persons in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Payao, and Lampang

Abstract

Rationale: Leprosy disease‘s diagnosis method is to observe disease lesion on skin and investigate with laboratory method by slit skin smears & Ziehl Neelsen staining. Improving of laboratory methods for more sensitivity test and more specifics test such as Anti PGL-1 test are available now and can also detect clinical and subclinical contact positive cases.

Objective: To study positive rate of laboratory methods for detecting leprosy infection from patients and sub clinical contact persons and observe clinical break-down for leprosy disease from subclinical contact persons 1 year later.

Method: Collected list of patients and contact persons’ names from registered book of leprosy record in the year 2004. Interview was done to recruit the subject. In case of abnormal skin; Slit skin smears & Ziehl Neelsen staining and PGL-1 Rapid flow test were performed. Results were analyzed and used for observing clinical break-down of leprosy diseases from subclinical contact persons for a period of 1 year later.

Result: The result of 25 patients’ Slit skin smear & Ziehl-Neelsen staining and PGL-1 Rapid flow test showed positive for 6(24%) and 13 (52%), respectively. Fifty five patients’contact persons Slit skin smear & Ziehl-Neelsen staining and PGL-1 Rapid flow test resulted in 0 (0%) and 25 (45.5%), respectively. There was no contact person who has clinical break-down for leprosy after 1 year later.

Conclusion: According to the results from this study, we could indicate that slit skin smear which is a standard method has sensitivity lower than to PGL-1 Rapid flow test. Therefore, PGL-1 Rapid flow test could be used to detect in order to prevent and control leprosy disease in the field area due to its simple and uncomplicated method. Bull Chiang Mai Assoc Med Sci 2009; 42: 120-127.