Leprosy mailing list – April 8th, 2005
Ccn: all.
Ref.: research
project for new test to detect antibodies specific to leprosy.
From: K P Dhakal,
Biratnagar
,
Nepal
.
Dear Dr. Noto,
About the
opinion Dr. Agusni (LML April 2nd,
2005) put from
Indonesia
. Yes, the WHO classification is mainly directed to the
implementation of leprosy services in the field situation by health
workers with limited facilities.
The PCR and
other sophisticated tests are more sensitive and specific but not very
feasible in the field situation. More over because the PCR is very
sensitive, it detects very few bacilli in the lesion which may not
reflect the actual bacterial load, which is the basis for
categorization of leprosy into PB and MB groups.
So, we need
to look for more simple tests which can be implemented in the
field situation by relatively less trained health workers with
relatively less expensive equipments. For this purpose a new test to
detect the antibodies specific to leprosy is being implemented in our
project as a research project for the feasibility of implementation in
the field. The final report of the study is yet to come, but it looks
more promising in this field.
Dr. K.
P. Dhakal.
Project
leader
NLR-ELCP
Biratnagar,
Nepal
