Performance of an immunochromatographic test for the rapid diagnosis of malaria.
The immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the rapid diagnosis of malaria has been marketed for several years. In a study in which three Centres of Tropical Medicine participated and data were pooled, performance of the test varied considerably when comparing the results between each centre. The sensitivity of ICT in 2,343 patients tested in our services was 100% and the specificity 99.74%. Moreover, two patients with a positive ICT would initially have been missed by expert microscopy, with Plasmodium falciparum malaria being confirmed microscopically some hours later. The principal reasons for the better performance of the test in our series appear to be blood collection in EDTA vials and considerable experience with handling and interpreting the ICT test.
Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Joachim.Richter@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Joachim
J
Richter
Gundel
G
Harms
Irmela
I
Müller-Stöver
Klaus
K
Göbels
Dieter
D
Häussinger
D000818:Animals; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002845:Chromatography; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018512:Parasitemia; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
D011506:Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein