Parasight-F dipstick antigen test in the diagnosis of falciparum malaria in Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the shelf life, rapidity and diagnostic performance of ParaSight-F.


METHODS
Prospective randomised study.


METHODS
Malaria diagnostic and treatment posts and health centres in central-southern part of the Ethiopian Rift Valley.


METHODS
Three hundred and eighty two subjects randomly selected.


METHODS
Double blind evaluation of the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of PFT versus CBF.


RESULTS
The point prevalence was found to be 29.7% with species dominance of P. falciparum to P. vivax in the ratio of 4:1. The ParaSight-F test showed, considering P. falciparum only, a sensitivity of 92.5% and specificity of 93%. A remarkably high positive predictive value (PPV) of 82% as well as a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99% was obtained. Considering all species of Plasmodium, sensitivity was 78.6% and specificity 93%, with PPV and NPV of 82% and 91% respectively. Moreover, PFT was found to be rapid with a batch of ten-strips--a rack completed in 30 to 50 minutes, which was five to six times faster than CBF reading. In shelf-life studies, after one year of storage at room temperature, results were found similar to the original readings, indicating the stability and long durability of the test strips.


CONCLUSIONS
In their durability and high diagnostic performances, both the microscopic slide readings and PFT were found comparable and interchangeable, and advantage in endemic areas where laboratory facilities are not available. The rapidity of PFT may be of greater value during malaria epidemics. But during non-epidemic seasons, the inability of PFT not to detect all forms of malaria remains a draw back.
Mengesha
T
T
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Gebreselassie
H
H
Mohammed
H
H
Assefa
T
T
Woldemichael
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D011506:Proteins; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein