[Evaluation of usefulness of the panel test composed of malaria non-specific tests as a surrogate marker].
BACKGROUND
Although malaria-specific antibody or antigen test is useful for the diagnosis of malaria infection, its cost-effectiveness has to be concerned in the area where malaria prevalence is very low. We created a panel test composed of malaria non-specific parameters, namely hematology autoanalyzer-derived results with or without addition of HDL-cholesterol data, and evaluated its usefulness in comparison with malaria-specific antibody test.


METHODS
For 395 patients tested for malaria smear, the hematology parameters such as platelet count, NRBC (%) and VCS (volume, conductivity, scattering) parameters of WBC, and HDL-cholesterol data were analyzed. Statistical significance of each parameter and that of panel test with or without addition of HDL-cholesterol were evaluated.


RESULTS
Malaria antibody test showed sensitivity of 97.1% and specificity of 99.1%. Each parameter of platelet count, NRBC (%), D parameter and HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 86.8%, 41.2%, 81.8%, and 70.6%, and specificity of 85.9%, 96.3%, 72.3%, and 81.7%, respectively. Panel test without including HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 81.6%, and that including HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 86.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
The malaria non-specific panel test composed of hematology autoanalyzer-derived parameters showed relatively good, but slightly lower sensitivity than that of malaria-specific antibody test. It might be used as a screening test for the diagnosis of malaria infection, and addition of HDL cholesterol improved little the usefulness of the panel test.
Kang
Yun Hi
YH
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
Lim
Hwan Sub
HS
Lee
Hyuk Min
HM
Lee
Kkot-Sil
KS
Choi
Kyong Min
KM
D000818:Animals; D001322:Autoanalysis; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012372:ROC Curve; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic