Field evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction-based nonisotopic liquid hybridization assay for malaria diagnosis.
In a blind field evaluation of a nonisotopic liquid hybridization assay for detection of malaria parasites, 100 blood samples were tested from an area in which malaria is endemic; light microscopy was used as the reference test. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the hybridization assay were 100%. One sample that was microscopy-negative and hybridization-positive was positive when reexamined. Another sample that was microscopy-positive and hybridization-negative was negative at reexamination. The detection limit of the test was > or = 0.0005% parasitemia. Four samples with mixed infections were misdiagnosed by microscopy as single-species infections. Four samples diagnosed as mixed infections by microscopy and single infection by the hybridization test had no evidence of a second Plasmodium species upon reexamination. The polymerase chain-reaction-based nonisotopic liquid hybridization assay was better than conventional light microscopy in detecting low-grade parasite infection and offers an exceptional advantage for detecting mixed infections.
Oliveira
D A
DA
Division of Parasitic Diseases (National Center for Infectious Diseases), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
Shi
Y P
YP
Oloo
A J
AJ
Boriga
D A
DA
Nahlen
B L
BL
Hawley
W A
WA
Holloway
B P
BP
Lal
A A
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D016054:DNA, Protozoan