title: Computer-vision-based technology for fast, accurate and cost effective diagnosis of malaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microscopy has long been considered to be the gold standard for diagnosis of malaria despite the introduction of newer assays. However, it has many challenges like requirement of trained microscopists and logistic issues. A vision based device that can diagnose malaria, provide speciation and estimate parasitaemia was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The device was evaluated using samples from 431 consented patients, 361 of which were initially screened by RDT and microscopy and later analysed by PCR. It was a prospective, non-randomized, blinded trial. Quantification of parasitaemia was performed by two experienced technicians. Samples were subjected to diagnosis by Sight Dx digital imaging scanning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity and specificity of the SightDx P1 device for analysed samples were found to be 97.05 and 96.33%, respectively, when compared to PCR. When compared to microscopy, sensitivity and specificity were found to be 94.4 and 95.6%, respectively. The device was able to speciate 73.3% of the PCR Plasmodium falciparum positive samples and 91.4% of PCR Plasmodium vivax positive samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability of the device to detect parasitaemia as compared with microscopy, was within 50% in 71.3% of cases and demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 0.89.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector 8 Dwarka, New Delhi, 110 077, India. shbira@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector 8 Dwarka, New Delhi, 110 077, India. anvikar@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Anupkumar R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Anvikar
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Malaria Research Field Unit, Bengaluru, India. ghoshnimr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Susanta K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector 8 Dwarka, New Delhi, 110 077, India. neelima.nimr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Neelima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector 8 Dwarka, New Delhi, 110 077, India. navinjh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Navin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Sight Diagnostics, 1 Agudat Hasport Hapoel, Jerusalem Technology Park, Jerusalem, Israel. arnon@sightdx.com.
authors.forename: Arnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Houri-Yafin
authors.affiliation: Sight Diagnostics, 1 Agudat Hasport Hapoel, Jerusalem Technology Park, Jerusalem, Israel. yossi@sightdx.com.
authors.forename: Joseph Joel
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pollak
authors.affiliation: Sight Diagnostics, 1 Agudat Hasport Hapoel, Jerusalem Technology Park, Jerusalem, Israel. seth@sightdx.com.
authors.forename: Seth J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Salpeter
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector 8 Dwarka, New Delhi, 110 077, India. neenavalecha@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Neena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Valecha
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000175:diagnosis*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity