Lassa fever laboratory findings
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Laboratory Findings
There is a range of laboratory investigations that are performed to diagnose the disease and assess its course and complications. ELISA test for antigen and IgM antibodies gives 88% sensitivity and 90% specificity for the presence of the infection. Other laboratory findings in Lassa fever include lymphopenia (low white blood cell count), thrombocytopenia (low platelets), and elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in the blood. Lassa fever can also be found in cerebrospinal fluid. [1] In West Africa, where Lassa is most prevalent, it is difficult for doctors to diagnose due to the absence of proper equipment to perform tests. [2]. Research has been done in the last few year,by a team of specialists, in order to diagnose the Lassa fever on a molecular level.[3]
References
- ↑ Lassa Fever Encephalopathy: Lassa Virus in Cerebrospinal Fluid but Not in Serum Stephan Günther, Boye Weisner, Andreas Roth, Thomas Grewing, Marcel Asper, Christian Drosten, Petra Emmerich, Jochen Petersen, Martin Wilczek and Herbert Schmitz The Journal of Infectious Diseases , Vol. 184, No. 3 (Aug. 1, 2001), pp. 345-349
- ↑ Mojeed, Momoh (14 Nov. 2012.). "Molecular Diagnostics For Lassa Fever At Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria: Lessons Learnt From Two Years Of Laboratory Operation". Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases. Check date values in:
|date=(help);|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ Ehichioya, Deborah U.; Asogun, Danny A.; Ehimuan, Jacqueline; Okokhere, Peter O.; Pahlmann, Meike; Ölschläger, Stephan; Becker-Ziaja, Beate; Günther, Stephan; Omilabu, Sunday A. Tropical Medicine & International Health. Aug2012, Vol. 17 Issue 8, p1001-1004. 4p. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.03010.x.