title: Study on validity of a rapid diagnostic test kit versus light microscopy for malaria diagnosis in Ahmedabad city, India.
abstract: Light microscopy of blood smears for diagnosis of malaria in the field has several limitations, notably delays in diagnosis. This study in Ahmedabad in Gujarat State, India, evaluated the diagnostic performance of a rapid diagnostic test for malaria (SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.f/Pan) versus blood smear examination as the gold standard. All fever cases presenting at 13 urban health centres were subjected to rapid diagnostic testing and thick and thin blood smears. A total of 677 cases with fever were examined; 135 (20.0%) tested positive by rapid diagnostic test and 86 (12.7%) by blood smear. The sensitivity of the rapid diagnostic test for malaria was 98.8%, specificity was 91.5%, positive predictive value 63.0% and negative predictive value 99.8%. For detection of Plasmodium falciparum the sensitivity of rapid diagnostic test was 100% and specificity was 97.3%. The results show the acceptability of the rapid test as an alternative to light microscopy in the field setting.
authors: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Medical Education Trust Medical College, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Vyas
authors: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Medical Education Trust Medical College, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Puwar
authors: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Medical Education Trust Medical College, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Patel
authors: Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society Medical College, Sola, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Bhatt
authors: Department of Health, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kulkarni
authors: Department of Health, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fancy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D008875:Middle Aged; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic