Inconclusive results in conventional serological screening for Chagas' disease in blood banks: evaluation of cellular and humoral response.

Objective: To find the most reliable screening method for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood banks.

Material And Methods: Epidemiological data, lymphoproliferation assay, parasitological, conventional serological tests: immunofluorescence, haemagglutination, ELISA with epimastigote and trypomastigote antigens and reference serological tests: trypomastigote excreted-secreted antigens (TESA) blot and chemiluminescent ELISA assay with mucine from trypomastigote forms were applied to individuals with inconclusive serology, non-chagasic individuals and chronic chagasic patients.

Results: TESA blot had the best performance when used as a single test in all the groups.