LEISHMANIA (KALA AZAR) rK-39 ANTIBODY (O.S)

Overview

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most important parasitic diseases in the Indian subcontinent, and India alone accounts for 40-50% of the worlds burden of the disease. Because the disease is fatal, and most of the drugs used in its treatment carry significant adverse events, an early and accurate diagnosis is essential. The rK39 rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) is now being widely used in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) using serum. 39-amino acid residue (k-39) encoded by a kinesin-related gene in the amastigotes of Leishmania chagasi, it has been used in the format of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromatographic test (ICT) for detection of antibodies with high sensitivity and specificity.