Five years of screening for galactosaemia in South Africa: Pitfalls of using Benedict's test and thin layer chromatography to screen for galactosaemia in a developing country.


Journal

Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry
ISSN: 1873-3492
Titre abrégé: Clin Chim Acta
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 1302422

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Jun 2020
Historique:
received: 02 02 2020
revised: 15 02 2020
accepted: 17 02 2020
pubmed: 25 2 2020
medline: 18 4 2020
entrez: 25 2 2020
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

The objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of screening for hereditary galactosaemia with Benedict's test and thin layer chromatography (TLC) in a tertiary laboratory from a developing country. We retrospectively analysed the results of tests done in suspected galactosaemia patients including Benedict's test, thin layer chromatography, GALT activity and DNA analysis. 878 paediatric patients were screened with Benedict's test; the age range was 5 days to 19 years. 48% tested positive/trace on the Benedict's test of which 52% of these had galactosuria evident on TLC. 22% of this sample had pathologically low GALT results on follow-up. 8 patients from the screened population were confirmed to have galactosaemia, in addition to 6 more patients diagnosed with galactosaemia without screening tests performed. Median ages at which the diagnoses were made in the screened and non-screened samples were 2 months and 6 months respectively. Confirmatory DNA testing was performed in 2 patients, whom were found to be heterozygous for S135L mutation. Inadequate performance of Benedict's test and TLC was demonstrated by false positive and false negative results leading us to conclude that screening test results require interpretation with caution.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of screening for hereditary galactosaemia with Benedict's test and thin layer chromatography (TLC) in a tertiary laboratory from a developing country.
METHODS METHODS
We retrospectively analysed the results of tests done in suspected galactosaemia patients including Benedict's test, thin layer chromatography, GALT activity and DNA analysis.
RESULTS RESULTS
878 paediatric patients were screened with Benedict's test; the age range was 5 days to 19 years. 48% tested positive/trace on the Benedict's test of which 52% of these had galactosuria evident on TLC. 22% of this sample had pathologically low GALT results on follow-up. 8 patients from the screened population were confirmed to have galactosaemia, in addition to 6 more patients diagnosed with galactosaemia without screening tests performed. Median ages at which the diagnoses were made in the screened and non-screened samples were 2 months and 6 months respectively. Confirmatory DNA testing was performed in 2 patients, whom were found to be heterozygous for S135L mutation.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate performance of Benedict's test and TLC was demonstrated by false positive and false negative results leading us to conclude that screening test results require interpretation with caution.

Identifiants

pubmed: 32092319
pii: S0009-8981(20)30073-5
doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.02.018
pii:
doi:

Substances chimiques

Indicators and Reagents 0
DNA 9007-49-2
UTP-Hexose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase EC 2.7.7.10
GALT protein, human EC 2.7.7.12
Copper Sulfate LRX7AJ16DT

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

73-77

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Auteurs

Tumelo M Satekge (TM)

Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and National Health Laboratory Service Tshwane Academic Division, Pretoria, South Africa.

Olivia Kiabilua (O)

Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and National Health Laboratory Service Tshwane Academic Division, Pretoria, South Africa.

Amanda Krause (A)

Department of Human Genetics, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Tahir S Pillay (TS)

Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and National Health Laboratory Service Tshwane Academic Division, Pretoria, South Africa; Division of Chemical Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: tspillay@gmail.com.

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Classifications MeSH