IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHIC TEST: A NEW DIMENSION IN DIAGNOSIS OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM MALARIA

Area of Science:

• Medical Diagnostics
• Parasitology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Malaria diagnosis relies on microscopy, which has limitations.
• Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein-2 (Pfhrp-2) antigen detection offers an alternative diagnostic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of immunochromatographic test (ICT) for malaria diagnosis.
• To compare ICT performance against direct microscopy in patients with malaria symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Studied 75 patients with clinical malaria suspicion.
• Compared ICT detecting Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein-2 antigen with direct microscopy.
• Analyzed sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of ICT.

Main Results:

• ICT detected 87.5% of Plasmodium falciparum cases, outperforming microscopy's 67.5%.
• ICT showed 100% specificity and negative predictive value for Plasmodium vivax and non-malarial fevers.
• ICT sensitivity was 87.5%, specificity 100%, PPV 100%, NPV 87.5% for P. falciparum.

Conclusions:

• ICT is a valuable adjunct to blood smear microscopy for malaria diagnosis.
• Recommended for fever cases with neurological/multiorgan dysfunction and antenatal patients.
• Highlights ICT's utility in improving malaria detection rates.