New DiagnosticTest

 

Leprosy Mailing List – April 29,  2013 

Ref.:    (LML) New DiagnosticTest

From:  Dr. P.K. Das, Amsterdam Medical Centre, The Netherlands

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Dear Pieter,

I agree fully according to Dr Diana Lockwood statement: "The problem with over-promoting a new test for leprosy is that it obscures the reality that we badly need a field friendly test for Paucibacillary Leprosy".

In addition , a test which could predict the % of population at risk in developing this kind of disease, for which it will be a indeed big help as Dr. Wim van Brakel advocates that "a focus on health education, at large, needs to be emphasized, so that in endemic region individuals suspected for leprosy, remain at the earliest possible time window.

Personally I have a reservation about whether or not it is useful  to continue spending enormous amounts of money in researching on developing diagnostics or we should try to use the presently available diagnostics prudently, which can monitor the patients for compliance and efficacy of the treatment, in robust manner, before declaring them cured.

My appreciation goes to Diana and Wim for discussing this issue rationally.

 

Regards.

Pranab K. Das

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