Evaluation of a bovine antibody test for diagnosing Mycobacterium avium complex in patients with cystic fibrosis

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Tavs Qvist
  • Tacjana Pressler
  • Terese L. Katzenstein
  • Høiby, Niels
  • Michael T. Collins

Introduction: The aim of this study was to test a commercial bovine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for investigating antibody activity against Mycobacterium avium complex. Methods: All patients at the Copenhagen Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center who had culture for nontuberculous mycobacteria performed were included. A commercially available antibody test used in veterinary medicine, was adjusted for human use, and applied to patient sera in a cross sectional test. The test positivity threshold was determined using a receiver operating curve (ROC). A longitudinal analysis of antibody kinetics before and after culture conversion was performed in case patients. Results: Out of 286 included subjects, six had clinical M. avium complex pulmonary disease at the time of sera sampling. These patients presented with higher antibody test values (P-value <0.01). A test cut point of 0.78 was chosen, corresponding to a sensitivity of 100% (54–100), specificity of 66% (60–72), a positive predictive value of 6% (2–13), and negative predictive value of 100% (98–100). Conclusion: While not suited for direct diagnosis of M. avium complex due to a high number of false positive subjects, the assay proved useful at ruling out pulmonary disease. Screening sera from patients with CF could guide clinicians to focus attention on patients at higher risk of M. avium complex pulmonary disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:34–40.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPediatric Pulmonology
Volume52
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)34-40
Number of pages7
ISSN8755-6863
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2017

    Research areas

  • diagnostic accuracy, nontuberculous, NTM, serology

ID: 187265599