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We compared the performance of Paracheck-Pf, a new and cheap rapid malaria test, with ICT-Pf/PvR and microscopy in two malaria surveys in Thai villages on the Thai-Burmese border. The specificity, sensitivity, predictive positive and negative values of the Paracheck-PfR and ICT-PfR tests were calculated taking microscopy results as the gold standard. The 294 ICT-Pf/Pv tests resulted in two invalid (no control line) and 11 doubtful results. Both the ICT-Pf/PvR and Paracheck-PfR tests reliably detected P. falciparum infections. However, Paracheck-PfR failed to detect three P. falciparum cases and likewise, ICT-Pf/PvR failed to detect the same three cases and an additional four cases. These seven cases were detected by microscopy and had a parasitaemia under 150 parasites/microl. At a cost of c. US $1.00, the Paracheck-PfR test, based on the detection of the P. falciparum specific HRP-2 protein, is a reliable, easy to use and affordable tool for the diagnosis of P. falciparum malaria.

Original publication

DOI

10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00694.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH

Publication Date

02/2001

Volume

6

Pages

99 - 101

Addresses

Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sod, Thailand. shoklo@cscoms.com

Keywords

Animals, Humans, Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria, Falciparum, Proteins, Microscopy, Mass Screening, Health Surveys, Sensitivity and Specificity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Predictive Value of Tests, Drug Resistance, Time Factors, Rural Health, Thailand