Pertussis: The disease and new diagnostic methods

While progress has been made in the development of rapid diagnostic tests for B. pertussis, presently culture and the DFA test are still the methods of choice for confirmatory diagnosis of pertussis. Serologic ELISAs for detection of anti-pertussis antibody in sera or nasal secretions hold promise as important tools in epidemiologic studies of pertussis but not as rapid diagnostic tests. The most promising diagnostic methods for the future appear to be the use of DNA probes and methods to directly detect B. pertussis antigens in nasopharyngeal specimens. This includes use of specific monoclonal antibodies or assaying for the AC enzyme of B. pertussis. Further extensive laboratory studies, research, and field trial evaluations will need to be done to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and value of these methods as new rapid diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of pertussis.