A real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is considered the gold standard for the laboratory diagnosis of canine parvovirus (CPV) infection but can only be performed in specialized laboratories. Several point-of-care tests (POCT), detecting CPV antigens in faeces within minutes, are commercially available. The aim of this study was to evaluate eight POCT in comparison with qPCR. Faecal samples of 150 dogs from three groups (H: 50 client-owned, healthy dogs, not vaccinated within the last four weeks; S: 50 shelter dogs, healthy, not vaccinated within the last four weeks; p = 50 dogs with clinical signs of CPV infection) were tested with eight POCT and qPCR. Practicability, sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV), as well as overall accuracy were determined. To assess the differences between and agreement among POCT, McNemar’s test and Cohen’s Kappa statistic were performed. Specificity and PPV were 100.0% in all POCT. Sensitivity varied from 22.9–34.3% overall and from 32.7–49.0% in group P. VetexpertRapidTestCPVAg® had the highest sensitivity (34.3% overall, 49.0% group P) and differed significantly from the 3 POCT with the lowest sensitivities (Fassisi®Parvo (27.7% overall, 36.7% group P), Primagnost®ParvoH+K (24.3% overall, 34.7% group P), FASTest®PARVOCard (22.9% overall, 32.7% group P)). The agreement among all POCT was at least substantial (kappa >0.80). A positive POCT result confirmed the infection with CPV in unvaccinated dogs, whereas a negative POCT result did not definitely exclude CPV infection due to the low sensitivity of all POCT.

Procedeu-se ao estudo comparativo das técnicas - de Coloração de Sellers, Imunofluorescência Direta e Inoculação em Camundongos, utilizadas na rotina de diagnóstico laboratorial da raiva e praticadas sobre 2.242 amostras de cérebro de cães, enviadas ao Instituto Pasteur de São Paulo, durante o período de janeiro de 1974 a abril de 1976. As técnicas de Inoculação em Camundongos e de Imunofluorescência Direta foram as que apresentaram maior grau de Sensibilidade, sendo essa associação a que forneceu maior Concordância e valor significante mais alto para o x2 (Qui quadrado). A técnica de Coloração de Sellers foi a que apresentou menor grau de Sensibilidade e sua associação com as técnicas de Imunofluorescência Direta e de Inoculação em Camundongos forneceu resultados de Concordância e x2 (Qui quadrado) inferiores aos obtidos pela associação dessas duas técnicas. / A comparative study was made of three techniques: Coloration of Sellers, Direct Immunofluorescence, and Inoculation in Mice - used in the routine of laboratory diagnosis of rabies and applied on 2,242 samples of dog brains which were sent to the Pasteur Institute of Sã0 Paulo, between January 1974 and April 1976. The techniques of mice inoculation and of direct immunofluorescence were the ones which presented higher degree of sensitivity; this association resulted in a greater rapport and a higher significative value for the x2 (square Qui). The techniques of Sellers Coloration resulted in a lower degree of sensitivity, and its association with the techniques of direct immunofluorescence and inoculation in mice gave over results of rapport and x2 than those obtained by the association of the two latter techniques.

Procedeu-se ao estudo comparativo das técnicas - de Coloração de Sellers, Imunofluorescência Direta e Inoculação em Camundongos, utilizadas na rotina de diagnóstico laboratorial da raiva e praticadas sobre 2.242 amostras de cérebro de cães, enviadas ao Instituto Pasteur de São Paulo, durante o período de janeiro de 1974 a abril de 1976. As técnicas de Inoculação em Camundongos e de Imunofluorescência Direta foram as que apresentaram maior grau de Sensibilidade, sendo essa associação a que forneceu maior Concordância e valor significante mais alto para o x2 (Qui quadrado). A técnica de Coloração de Sellers foi a que apresentou menor grau de Sensibilidade e sua associação com as técnicas de Imunofluorescência Direta e de Inoculação em Camundongos forneceu resultados de Concordância e x2 (Qui quadrado) inferiores aos obtidos pela associação dessas duas técnicas. / A comparative study was made of three techniques: Coloration of Sellers, Direct Immunofluorescence, and Inoculation in Mice - used in the routine of laboratory diagnosis of rabies and applied on 2,242 samples of dog brains which were sent to the Pasteur Institute of Sã0 Paulo, between January 1974 and April 1976. The techniques of mice inoculation and of direct immunofluorescence were the ones which presented higher degree of sensitivity; this association resulted in a greater rapport and a higher significative value for the x2 (square Qui). The techniques of Sellers Coloration resulted in a lower degree of sensitivity, and its association with the techniques of direct immunofluorescence and inoculation in mice gave over results of rapport and x2 than those obtained by the association of the two latter techniques.

There is very little in the literature about the sensitivity of norm-referenced tests to growth of diverse groups of test takers, particularly low-achieving test takers, who operate at the lowest 15 percentile of their peers. To bridge the knowledge gap, this study examined the sensitivity to growth of norm-referenced achievement tests. The purpose of the study is to determine the sensitivity of norm-referenced test to the growth of low-achieving students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. Four analysis were performed to test eight identified norm-referenced test for their sensitivity to the growth of students who perform at approximately the 15th percentile or below of their grade peers. Results of the analyses suggested that two of the eight tests are adequate for use with low-achieving students within a norm period. The other six tests showed lack of precision and appeared not to be suitable for measuring progress of low -achieving students.