International Journal of Public Health (Nov 2022)

Opportunistic Community Screening of Chronic Chagas Disease Using a Rapid Diagnosis Test in Pharmacies in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain): Study Protocol and Pilot Phase Results

  • Aroa Silgado,
  • Pau Bosch-Nicolau,
  • Pau Bosch-Nicolau,
  • Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá,
  • Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá,
  • Ariadna Cervià,
  • Jordi Gomez-i-Prat,
  • Guillermo Bagaria,
  • Cristina Rodriguez,
  • Lidia Goterris,
  • Núria Serre-Delcor,
  • Núria Serre-Delcor,
  • Inés Oliveira-Souto,
  • Inés Oliveira-Souto,
  • Fernando Salvador,
  • Fernando Salvador,
  • Israel Molina,
  • Israel Molina,
  • Elena Sulleiro,
  • Elena Sulleiro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2022.1605386
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 67

Abstract

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Objectives: This study aimed to report the protocol and results from the pilot phase of an opportunistic CP-based CD screening program in Barcelona, Spain.Methods: Three strategies according to recruitment approach were designed: passive, active and active-community. The study process consisted of signing the informed consent form, recording the patient’s data in a web-based database system, and performing the rapid test and blood collection on dry paper.Results: Nineteen pharmacies participated and 64 patients were included during the pilot phase of the study. The rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was positive in 2/64 (3.13%) cases. Of the 49 DBS samples that arrived at the laboratory, 22 (45%) were collected incorrectly. After quantitative and qualitative assessment of the program, the dry paper sample and passive strategy were ruled out.Conclusion: DBS sampling and the passive strategy are not suitable for CD screening in community pharmacies. There is a need to expand the number of participating pharmacies and individuals to determine whether conducting a RDT in community pharmacies is an effective screening method to increase access to CD diagnosis in a non-endemic area.

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