VL is a severe disease with high mortality. It is caused by members of the Leishmania donovani complex and canines have been identified as the major reservoir for transmission (5-8). Serodiagnosis has been widely utilized to establish infection because antileishmanial antibody titers are high during acute disease. The preferred method of diagnosis in a laboratory situation is by ELISA, although fluorescent antibody (IFAT) or direct agglutination tests (DAT), both utilizing whole parasites, are still widely used. These tests are highly cross-reactive with trypanosomes and mycobacteria. In addition, the whole parasite preparations used are unstable and variable in quality. This rapid assay is for the qualitative determination of antibodies to a recombinant antigen specific for Visceral Leishmaniasis caused by parasite members of the L. donovani complex

Tell Me Fast™ One Step Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) Test is a rapid immunochromatographic assay for the qualitative detection of antibodies to members of L. donovani in human serum. The test provides a visual and qualitative result.