Evaluation of PCR on blood and skin microbiopsies, peripheral blood buffy coat smear, and urine antigen ELISA for diagnosis and test of cure for visceral leishmaniasis in coinfected patients in India: a prospective cohort study (BMJ open · Apr 28, 2021)

Infectious Diseases coinfection presents a challenge for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Invasive splenic or bone marrow aspiration with microscopic visualisation of Leishmania parasites remains the gold standard for diagnosis of VL in Infectious Diseases -coinfected patients. Furthermore, a test of cure by splenic or bone marrow aspiration is required as patients with VL infection are at a high risk of treatment failure. However, there remain financial, implementation and safety costs to these invasive techniques which severely limit their use under field conditions