title: Validity, reliability and ease of use in the field of five rapid tests for the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Uganda.
abstract: A study was conducted to measure the overall performance of several rapid diagnostic tests for Plasmodium falciparum infection, in order to select the most appropriate test to be used in the field. A total of 742 patients attending the out-patient department of Mbarara Hospital with a clinical suspicion of malaria were included in the study. For each patient, a thick/thin film and 5 rapid tests based on the detection of histidine-rich protein II (HRP-II) (Paracheck Pf dipstick and device, ParaHIT f, Malaria Rapid and BIO P.F.) were performed. Outcomes were validity, inter-reader reliability and 'ease of use in the field', measured by both the general characteristics of the test and by the opinion of the readers. About half (57%) of the patients were positive for P. falciparum. The Paracheck Pf (dipstick and device) was considered as the most appropriate for the use in the field, being sensitive (97%), moderately specific (88%), reliable (kappa coefficient = 0.97), easy to use and cheap (about US$ 0.5/test). The ParaHIT f represented a good alternative.
authors.affiliation: Epicentre, 4 rue Saint Sabin, 75011 Paris, France. jguthmann@epicentre.msf.org
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Guthmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Priotto
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiguli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonte
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Legros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010274:Parasitology / Q000592:standards*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic