Buruli Ulcer Mobile Lab Field Evaluation Data from Ghana

32 out of 39 PCR-confirmed Buruli ulcer cases were accurately identified by a portable suitcase laboratory platform in a field evaluation in Ghana. The dataset contains raw data from a study evaluating a rapid, on-site Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (Mu-RPA) assay for diagnosing Mycobacterium ulcerans infections. Author Hubert Senanu Ahor published the data on figshare in May 2026.

Use Cases

• Evaluate diagnostic test performance based on sensitivity and specificity metrics reported in the description.
• Compare sample type efficacy based on the described sensitivity differences between swabs (91%) and fine-needle aspirates (69%).
• Model the feasibility of mobile laboratory deployment based on the described one-hour processing time and portable case dimensions.
• Benchmark isothermal amplification assays against PCR based on the described 82% agreement for confirmed cases.

Strengths

• Includes performance metrics for 39 PCR-confirmed cases and non-BU controls, with a reported clinical specificity of 100%.
• Data is associated with a concrete field evaluation describing a one-hour process from sample to result using a portable platform.
• Released under a permissive CC-BY-4.0 license, facilitating reuse and analysis.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset is very small at 20.4 KB, indicating limited scope and sample size.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to its collection from three endemic districts in Ghana.

Provenance

Source

figshare, authored by Hubert Senanu Ahor.

Collection Method

Field evaluation of a mobile laboratory platform at Buruli ulcer clinics.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-04 17:42:08; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Three endemic districts in Ghana.