Evaluation of a rapid qualitative enzyme chromatographic test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

Rapid determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) status is desirable when it is necessary to use a drug contraindicated in G6PD-deficient persons, such as use of primaquine for malaria prevention or treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare a new, rapid, qualitative enzyme chromatographic test for deficiency of G6PD to a standard reference method. Samples from 196 G6PD-normal persons and 50 G6PD-deficient persons were evaluated. The sensitivity of the experimental rapid test was 0.98 and the specificity was 0.98 using specimens preserved in heparin, and 0.98 and 0.97, respectively, for specimens preserved in EDTA. Positive and negative predictive values were 0.72 and 1.00, respectively, for the test for heparinized specimens and 0.65 and 1.00, respectively, for the EDTA-preserved samples. This rapid test for G6PD deficiency is a sensitive method for screening of G6PD deficiency that requires minimal training and equipment and enables rapid identification of G6PD-deficient persons.