Indian J Med Res
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An infective stage specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay utilizing the abundant larval transcript-3 (Alt-3) gene of Wuchereria bancrofti was developed at ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry and found to be stage specific, and sensitive upon validation in the laboratory. This study was aimed at independently evaluating this assay for its utility as a monitoring/surveillance tool in the operational programme for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) by four national research laboratories. ⋯ Overall, the results from three of the four participating centres indicated that the assay is at least as sensitive and stage specific as the conventional mosquito dissection technique, and hence, may be useful as a xenomonitoring tool for Transmission Assessment Survey in Mass Drug Administration programmes for LF.