01964nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002600055653002400081653003800105653001600143653001100159653001200170653002100182100001500203700001500218700001100233700001500244700001300259245014200272300001000414490000800424520125200432022001401684       1988                            d  c1988 Apr10aAntibodies, Bacterial10aAntigens, Bacterial10aEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay10aGlycolipids10aHumans10aleprosy10aOligosaccharides1 aChanteau S1 aCartel J L1 aRoux J1 aPlichart R1 aBach M A00aComparison of synthetic antigens for detecting antibodies to phenolic glycolipid I in patients with leprosy and their household contacts.  a770-60 v1573 a<p>Three synthetic antigens related to the natural antigen phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) were compared for their efficacy in detecting leprosy when used as antigens in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgM antibody to PGL-I. Absorbance values for ELISAs using the three antigens correlated well (.79 less than r less than .99) and had a high rate of agreement (89.5% less than a less than 98.4%). Of three subjects (household contacts of patients with leprosy) who later developed the disease, one with lepromatous and one with indeterminate leprosy were seropositive by ELISAs using the three antigens before the clinical onset of disease; one who developed borderline tuberculoid leprosy was seronegative. The predictive value of a positive result for the test was very low (less than 2.4%) and the predictive value for a negative result was high (greater than 99.9%) because of the low prevalence of leprosy in French Polynesia (1.78 per 1000). The high sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of the tests using the three antigens confirmed their great value for serodiagnosis of leprosy, especially the multibacillary form; the ELISA using NTP seems to be more specific and sensitive for detecting the paucibacillary form.</p>  a0022-1899