Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Evaluation and comparison of ELISA and ELFA methods in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii parasite in pre-pregnancy women

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors
Faramarz Koohsar 1
Sedigheh Sadat Erfani 2
Roghiyeh Faridnia 3
Oghol niaz Jorjani 4
Sadegh Ali Azimi 2
Hamed Kalani 2
Naser Modanlo 5
1 Assistant Professor, Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Jorjani Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
3 PhD of Parasitology, Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
5 Medical Student, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Jorjani Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
10.48305/jims.v44.i877.2249
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite. The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the performance of ELISA and ELFA methods compared to CLIA method in the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii parasite.
Methods: In this study, 72 samples from pre-pregnancy women, of which 34 were positive and 38 were negative by CLIA method, were examined for Toxoplasma gondii IgG by ELISA and ELFA methods. The results obtained were compared with each other based on drawing the ROC curve.
Results: The specificity of the ELFA method in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii IgG was 81.58% and its sensitivity was 94.12%. The ROC curve analysis showed that the ELFA method in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii IgG was able to distinguish healthy individuals from patients. The area under the ROC curve was 0.95, which indicates the excellent performance of the ELFA method in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii IgG. The specificity of the ELISA method in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii IgG was 79.41% and its sensitivity was 89.47%. The ROC curve analysis showed that the ELISA method in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii IgG was able to distinguish healthy individuals from patients. The area under the ROC curve was 0.92, which indicates the excellent performance of the ELISA method in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii IgG.
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that both ELISA and ELFA methods are efficient in the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii, although the ELFA method had more specificity and sensitivity.

Highlights

Faramarz Koohsar: Google Scholar, PubMed

Hamed Kalani: Google Scholar, PubMed

Keywords
CLIA
ELISA
ELFA
Toxoplasma gondii
Subjects
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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 44, Issue 877
4th Week, October
September and October 2026
Pages 2249-2256

  • Receive Date 26 May 2025
  • Accept Date 11 August 2026