Nyamwamu, Lydia B.Gicheru, Michael M.Sharma, Rekha R.Kimutai, AlbertTonui, Willy K.Kamau, Ngure Peter2024-11-192024-11-192009Nyamwamu, L. B., Gicheru, M. M., Sharma, R. R., Kimutai, A., Tonui, W. K., & Ngure, P. K. (2009). Evaluation of the immunochromatographic strip test for the rapid diagnosis of antenatal syphilis in women in Eldoret, Kenya. Journal of Nanjing Medical University.https://repository.daystar.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5651Journal ArticleObjective; This study compared the performance of the immunochromatographic strip (ICS) to the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA) at a primary health care setting. Methods; The study group was comprised of 150 females randomly drawn from a population of pregnant women attending their first antenatal visit or follow-up visits at West Maternity Hospital in Eldoret Kenya, but without a previous syphilis test during that pregnancy. On-site VDRL, ICS and TPHA tests were performed and immediate treatment provided where appropriate. The performance of the three tests was compared. Results; The zero-prevalence of syphilis as determined by the VDRL test was 3%. There was no significant difference between the ICS and the VDRL test (P > 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of the ICS test were 80% and 98.6% respectively, while the negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) were both 100%. On the other hand, the sensitivity and specificity of the VDRL test were 66.7% and 99.3%, while the NPV and PPV were 80% and 98.6% respectively. The Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay was used as a reference test and had sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV of 100%.ensero-prevalence of syphilisnegative predictive value (NPV)immunochromatographic strip (ICS)Article