Serodia

Participants were tested for syphilis with serum RPR tests (BD Macro-Vue™ RPR Card Test Kit, Beckton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) tests (Serodia, Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc., Tokyo, Japan), using a cutoff value of ≥ 1:80. Participants were also tested for HIV infection (Alere Determine™ HIV 1/2, Alere Inc., Waltham, MA, USA and NEW LAV BLOT I, Bio-Rad, France).

Participants were screened for S. haematobium, S. mansoni and HIV-1 as described earlier (1, 65). Briefly, HIV pre- and post-test counselling was done in the participants’ native language (Shona) by qualified medical personnel. A rapid HIV-1/2 test kit was used on a dry blood spot in the field (Determine, Abbott Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan), followed by two different rapid HIV tests Oraquick (by Orasure) and Serodia (by Fujirebio) for all who tested initially positive. No discrepancies in results were found between the initial Determine HIV test and the two subsequent ELISAs. Strict confidentiality was maintained throughout the study. All those who requested their HIV results were given after post-test counselling from the nursing staff.