Seasonal performance of a malaria rapid diagnosis test at community health clinics in a malaria-hyperendemic region of Burkina Faso.
BACKGROUND
Treatment of confirmed malaria patients with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) at remote areas is the goal of many anti-malaria programs. Introduction of effective and affordable malaria Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) in remote areas could be an alternative tool for malaria case management. This study aimed to assess performance of the OptiMAL dipstick for rapid malaria diagnosis in children under five.


METHODS
Malaria symptomatic and asymptomatic children were recruited in a passive manner in two community clinics (CCs). Malaria diagnosis by microscopy and RDT were performed. Performance of the tests was determined.


RESULTS
RDT showed similar ability (61.2%) to accurately diagnose malaria as microscopy (61.1%). OptiMAL showed a high level of sensitivity and specificity, compared with microscopy, during both transmission seasons (high & low), with a sensitivity of 92.9% vs. 74.9% and a specificity of 77.2% vs. 87.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
By improving the performance of the test through accurate and continuous quality control of the device in the field, OptiMAL could be suitable for use at CCs for the management and control of malaria.
Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. s.sirima.cnlp@fasonet.bf
Amidou
A
Diarra
Issa
I
Nébié
Alfred
A
Tiono
Souleymane
S
Sanon
Issiaka
I
Soulama
Alphonse
A
Ouédraogo
Adama
A
Gansané
Jean B
JB
Yaro
Espérance
E
Ouédraogo
Alfred S
AS
Traoré
Sodiomon B
SB
Sirima
D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000592:standards*; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012621:Seasons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic