[Detection of specific DNA fragment of Plasmodium falciparum by solid phase PCR]

Solid phase PCR for detecting Plasmodium falciparum was established and used to detect cultured FCCl/HN isolate and malaria patients in Yunnan Province. The results revealed that the sensitivity of the method for detecting FCCl/HN isolate DNA was as minimal as 0.2 pg, or about 10 parasites. The specificity of the method was confirmed by discriminating malaria patients infected with different species of Plasmodium. The results suggest that solid phase PCR is a specific and sensitive method for early detection of P. falciparum.