title: Performance of OptiMAL-IT compared to microscopy, for malaria detection in Burkina Faso.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the performance of OptiMAL-IT, a rapid diagnostic test for malaria, with that of microscopy in Burkina Faso.
  
  
  METHODS
  Finger-prick blood samples of 464 children attending hospital for suspected malaria were tested for malaria by microscopy and OptiMAL-IT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity and specificity of OptiMAL-IT were 98.7% (CI 95% = 97.6-99.8) and 96.2% (CI 95% = 94.3-98.1) respectively, with a high positive likelihood ratio (25.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OptiMAL-IT can be considered a good method to diagnose malaria in Burkina Faso, particularly in remote areas with little or no access to microscopy services.
authors.affiliation: Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. valinno@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Innocent
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valéa
authors.forename: Halidou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tinto
authors.forename: Madi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikiema
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yamuah
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rouamba
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drabo
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Guiguemde
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: d'Alessandro
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008853:Microscopy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase