Evaluation of automated loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) for routine malaria detection in blood samples of German travelers - A cross-sectional study
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification RT-LAMP Assay for the Specific and Rapid Detection of Tilapia Lake Virus
Published on: May 18, 2020
Hagen Frickmann1, Rebecca Hinz2, Sandra Rojak3
1Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Tropical Microbiology and Entomology Unit, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, Schillingallee 70, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
Background:
We assessed a commercial loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) platform for its reliability as a screening tool for malaria parasite detection.
Methods:
A total of 1000 blood samples from patients with suspected or confirmed malaria submitted to the German National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens were subjected to LAMP using the Meridian illumigene Malaria platform. Results were compared with microscopy from thick and thin blood films in all cases. In case of discordant results between LAMP and microscopy (n = 60), confirmation testing was performed with real-time PCR. Persistence of circulating parasite DNA was analyzed by serial assessments of blood samples following malaria treatment.
Results:
Out of 1000 blood samples analyzed, 238 were positive for malaria parasites according to microscopy (n = 181/1000) or PCR (additional n = 57/60). LAMP demonstrated sensitivity of 98.7% (235/238), specificity of 99.6% (759/762), positive predictive value (PPV) of 98.7% (235/238) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.6% (759/762), respectively. For first slides of patients with malaria and for follow-up slides, sensitivity values were 99.1% (106/107) and 98.5% (129/131), respectively.
Conclusions:
The performance of the Meridian illumigene Malaria platform is suitable for initial screening of patients suspected of clinical malaria.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cross-Sectional Research
Finding Volume Using Cross-Sectional Area
Profile Leveling and Cross Sections
Travelling Waves
Water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves are some examples of mechanical waves. For water waves, the wave propagation medium is...
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
Traveling Waves: Lossless Lines

