THE GELATIN PARTICLE INDIRECT AGGLUTINATION TEST, A MEANS OF SIMPLE AND SENSITIVE SERODIAGNOSIS OF CHAGAS' DISEASE

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An indirect agglutination test using a Trypanosoma cruzi antigen-coated gelatin particles was employed to diagnose trypanosomiasis in Paraguay. Results with this test were quite comparable to those obtained with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, nonspecific reaction to the gelatin particles alone was not found in either acute or chronic infection. This method is more convenient than the ELISA, since the antigen-conjugated particles is stable for at least 1 year at 4°C and since the test itself is short and simple to perform and does not require specialized equipment.