Combination of Two Rapid Ophthalmic Test Kits for Improved Diagnosis in Cases of Severe Binocular Conjunctivitis

Introduction: Diagnosis of conjunctivitis can be sometimes difficult, especially in cases of severe conjunctivitis and those involving both eyes. In this study, we performed commercial tests for adenovirus (Capilia Adeno Eye(®)) and total tear IgE (Allerwatch(®)) in a single visit in patients with bilateral conjunctivitis to examine if, and by how much, the combination of these two tests would improve the diagnostic accuracy of conjunctivitis. Methods: The study included sixty patients with relatively severe conjunctivitis in both eyes within a week of consulting our clinic and who had no previous treatment. Capilia Adeno Eye(®) and Allerwatch(®) tests were performed. Results: A significantly higher number of cases (55/60) were diagnosed when both tests were evaluated than with either test (Capilia Adeno Eye(®) (12/60; p < 0.001) or Allerwatch(®) (44/60; p < 0.005)) alone. The positivity rate of Allerwatch(®) was significantly higher than that of Capilia Adeno Eye(®) (p < 0.001). The diagnosis rate of atopic keratoconjunctivitis was 100% in patients with allergic conjunctivitis, but there was no significant difference in positivity compared with other types of allergic conjunctivitis. Conclusions: Testing patients with both Capilia Adeno Eye(®) and Allerwatch(®) improves the diagnostic accuracy for conjunctivitis and can diagnose more than 90% of cases. Detection of adenovirus antigen and IgE in tears, using these simple and rapid methods, will be useful for early diagnosis and prevention of adenoviral conjunctivitis.