Table 5.

Diagnostic laboratory tests for paragonimiasis

Diagnostic test	Species	Sensitivity (%)	Specificity (%)	Reference
Parasitological testsa
Eggs in multiple sputum specimens	P. westermani	54–89	NRb	1
Eggs in single sputum specimen	P. westermani	30–40	NR	27
Eggs in 3 stool specimens	P. westermani	25	NR	1
Eggs in single stool specimen	P. westermani	11–15	NR	1
Immunodiagnostic tests
ELISA	P. westermani	82–93	98–100	39
Immunoblot assay	P. westermani	96	>99	37
Molecular diagnostics
Species DNA pyrosequencing	P. bangkokensis, P. harinasutai, P. heterotremus, P. macrorchis, P. siamensis, P. westermani	NR	NR	40
LAMP assay	P. westermani	100	NR	38
Protein microarray	P. westermani	86–92	97–100	39

^aAll parasitological tests required the microscopic identification of unembryonated eggs in specimens. Adult worms were rarely identified in most specimens but have been identified in tissues, such as lung biopsy specimens.

^bNR, not reported.