title: [Concordance between thick blood smear, immunochromatography and polymerase chain reaction for malaria diagnosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rapid and effective diagnosis of malaria is the determining condition for an appropriate treatment and control of the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The sensitivity, specificity and the positive and negative predictive values were evaluated in cases of suspected malaria in Colombia in a comparison of a rapid diagnostic test. the PCR test and the thick blood smear-the traditional gold standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 100 patients with symptoms compatible with malaria, were included in the study. They were selected from the following Colombian regions: Urabá, Córdoba, lower Cauca, and relatively fewer from other malaria endemic areas of Colombia including the provinces of Valle, Chocó in the central west of Colombia and Vichada to the east. To each patient the following three tests were performed: the rapid OptiMAL test, the PCR identification and the thick blood smear. The PCR amplified specific DNA sequences with primers designed to identify the genus Plasmodium, and the two species present in Colombia, P. falciparum and P. vivax.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of the rapid test versus the thick smear, for the diagnosis of both species of Plasmodium was 93.9% (95% CI: 87-100%) and the specificity was 94.3% (95% CI:.253 85-100%). The PCR compared with the thick smear showed a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 99-100%) and a specificity of 97.1% (95% CI: 90-100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sensitivity and specificity of the three tests did not present statistically significant differences. However, the thick blood smear was recommended as the standard test, mainly due to its low cost.
authors: Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical-CES, Sabaneta, Colombia. amontoya@ces.edu.co
authors: Astrid Elena
authors: AE
authors: Montoya
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Menco
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Osorio
authors: María Alejandra
authors: MA
authors: Zuluaga
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Duque
authors: Giovanny
authors: G
authors: Torres
authors: Marcos
authors: M
authors: Restrepo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002845:Chromatography / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity