title: [Evaluation of usefulness of the panel test composed of malaria non-specific tests as a surrogate marker].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Hi
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hwan Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hyuk Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kkot-Sil
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyong Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic