| Diagnostic methods | Pros and cons |
| Parasitological diagnosis | |
Dracunculiasis is diagnosed clinically by the effect of the gravid female worm (blister, then skin ulcer) or by an abscess induced by a dying worm). The adult worm may be seen protruding from the skin lesion.
Calcified worms may be seen by X-ray. | |
| Molecular diagnosis | |
| No tests developed | |
| Antigen detection | |
| Attempts to demonstrate D. medinensis antigens have so far been unsuccessful | |
| Antibody detection | |
| Immunodiagnostic tests have been explored using adult female worm and first-stage larval antigens. The most promising first results were obtained by detecting specific IgG4 antibodies. | - Specificity of serologic test is not yet fully validated
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