Specificity of the Testryp CATT card agglutination test in a non-sleeping-sickness area of Africa.

A card agglutination test (CATT), recently developed for the diagnosis of trypanosomiasis, has been evaluated in certain southern African localities; 179 blood specimens and 63 serum samples from black patients of both sexes and widely ranging ages, suffering from a variety of generalized and parasitic disorders, were tested. False-positives were minimal (2.9%) and there were no cross-reactions with any of the parasitic infections. The CATT is therefore regarded as a highly specific and sensitive test, which can be performed effectively in the field by non-specialist personnel.