title: Field application of SD bioline malaria Ag Pf/Pan rapid diagnostic test for malaria in Greece.
abstract: Greece, a malaria-free country since 1974, has experienced re-emergence of Plasmodium vivax autochthonous malaria cases in some agriculture areas over the last three years. In early 2012, an integrated control programme (MALWEST Project) was launched in order to prevent re-establishment of the disease. In the context of this project, the rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) of SD Bioline Malaria Ag Pf/Pan that detects hrp-2 and pan-LDH antigens were used. The aim of this study was to assess the field application of the RDT for the P. vivax diagnosis in comparison to light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 955 samples were tested with all three diagnostic tools. Agreement of RDT against microscopy and PCR for the diagnosis of P. vivax was satisfactory (K value: 0.849 and 0.976, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of RDT against PCR was 95.6% (95% C.I.: 84.8-99.3), 100% (95% C.I.: 99.6-100.0) and 100% (95% CI: 91.7-100.0) respectively, while the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of RDT against microscopic examination was 97.4% (95% C.I.: 86.1-99.6), 99.4% (95% C.I.: 98.6-99.8) and 86.1% (95% CI: 72.1-94.7), respectively. Our results indicate that RDT performed satisfactory in a non-endemic country and therefore is recommended for malaria diagnosis, especially in areas where health professionals lack experience on light microscopy.
authors: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece; Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Tseroni
authors: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Danai
authors: D
authors: Pervanidou
authors: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors: Persefoni
authors: P
authors: Tserkezou
authors: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Rachiotis
authors: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors: Ourania
authors: O
authors: Pinaka
authors: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Agoritsa
authors: A
authors: Baka
authors: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Theano
authors: T
authors: Georgakopoulou
authors: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Annita
authors: A
authors: Vakali
authors: General Hospital of Sparti, Lakonia, Sparti, Greece.
authors: Martha
authors: M
authors: Dionysopoulou
authors: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Terzaki
authors: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors: Andriani
authors: A
authors: Marka
authors: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Marios
authors: M
authors: Detsis
authors: Médecins Sans Frontières, Athens, Greece.
authors: Zafiroula
authors: Z
authors: Evlampidou
authors: Department of Parasitology, Entomology and Tropical Diseases, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
authors: Anastasia
authors: A
authors: Mpimpa
authors: Department of Parasitology, Entomology and Tropical Diseases, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
authors: Evdokia
authors: E
authors: Vassalou
authors: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Sotirios
authors: S
authors: Tsiodras
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Athanasios
authors: A
authors: Tsakris
authors: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens, Greece.
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Kremastinou
authors: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Hadjichristodoulou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan