Table 1.

Methods for the diagnosis of Chagas disease (CD). * LOD: Limit of Detection. NA: Not applicable.

Methods	Drawbacks	Benefits	LOD *	Need of Labeling	References
Selective Media	−Microorganism need to growth fast −Long time to yield results −It needs to be conducted in a laboratory −Needs an aseptic working area −Requires highly trained personnel −Tedious procedure	+Low cost +Easy to perform	NA	No	[41,42]
Biosensors	−Not commercially available for CD diagnosis −Large dimensions −It needs to be conducted in a laboratory (currently) −Further research and development is required for portable systems −High research cost	+Label free detection +Quantitative detection +No need of an aseptic working area +Fast (real-time measurements) +Easy to perform. Not need of trained personnel +In situ simple preparation +High analytical specificity +Reduction of reagents consumption +Reduced analysis time +High sensitivity and reliability +Integration of multiple processes in a single device +Possible automation +Low fabrication cost +Possible sensor regeneration for multiple analyses	~2 nM [43]	No	[6,18,28,30,33,34,35,36,37,43]
ELISA	−Labeled detection −Requires highly qualified personnel −Long assay times −It needs to be conducted in a laboratory −Complex and expensive instruments −Presents cross-reactivity with other infectious agents	+High selectivity and sensitivity +Improves the time required to yield results +It works well for samples without interfering molecules	~30 nM [43]	Yes	[41,42,44,45,46,47]
Quantitative PCR	−Complex and expensive instruments are required −Requires highly trained personnel −It needs to be conducted in a laboratory −Difficult to perform −Long assay times	+High selectivity and sensitivity +Improves the time required to yield results	~10 nM [43]	Yes	[40,42,45,46,47]
Rapid lateral flow test	−Specificity 96.8% −High possibility of presenting false positive −Just qualitative results −The method needs a tube and a measured volume of sample	+Fast (15–25 min) +High sensitivity of 99.5% +Low cost (less than $2 USD to the end user)	~20 nM	Yes	[7,48]