Paracheck-Pf: a new, inexpensive and reliable rapid test for P. falciparum malaria.
We compared the performance of Paracheck-Pf, a new and cheap rapid malaria test, with ICT-Pf/PvR and microscopy in two malaria surveys in Thai villages on the Thai-Burmese border. The specificity, sensitivity, predictive positive and negative values of the Paracheck-PfR and ICT-PfR tests were calculated taking microscopy results as the gold standard. The 294 ICT-Pf/Pv tests resulted in two invalid (no control line) and 11 doubtful results. Both the ICT-Pf/PvR and Paracheck-PfR tests reliably detected P. falciparum infections. However, Paracheck-PfR failed to detect three P. falciparum cases and likewise, ICT-Pf/PvR failed to detect the same three cases and an additional four cases. These seven cases were detected by microscopy and had a parasitaemia under 150 parasites/microl. At a cost of c. US $1.00, the Paracheck-PfR test, based on the detection of the P. falciparum specific HRP-2 protein, is a reliable, easy to use and affordable tool for the diagnosis of P. falciparum malaria.
Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sod, Thailand. shoklo@cscoms.com
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S
Proux
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L
Hkirijareon
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C
Ngamngonkiri
S
S
McConnell
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F
Nosten
D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008853:Microscopy; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011506:Proteins; D012423:Rural Health; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013785:Thailand; D013997:Time Factors; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
D011506:Proteins; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein