Research Articles

Comparison of a parasite lactate dehydrogenase-based immunochromatographic antigen detection assay (OptiMAL) with microscopy for the detection of malaria parasites in human blood samples

Microscopic examination of blood smears remains the gold standard for malaria diagnosis, but is labor-intensive and requires skilled operators. Rapid dipstick technology provides a potential alternative. A study was conducted in The Gambia to compare the performance of OptiMAL, an immunochromatographic antigen detection assay for the diagnosis of malaria using parasite lactate dehydrogenase, against standard microscopy in patients with suspected malaria. For initial diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum, irrespective of stage, this assay had a sensitivity of 91.3%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value of 87.2%, and a negative predictive value of 94.7%. The sensitivity of the test decreased markedly at parasitemias < 0.01%. This assay can be used for the diagnosis of malaria in areas where microscopy is not available and for urgent malaria diagnosis at night and at weekends, when routine laboratories are closed and when relatively inexperienced microscopists may be on duty.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. RATSIMBASOA, A. RANDRIAMANANTENA, R. RAHERINJAFY, N. RASOARILALAO, and D. MENARD WHICH MALARIA RAPID TEST FOR MADAGASCAR? FIELD AND LABORATORY EVALUATION OF THREE TESTS AND EXPERT MICROSCOPY OF SAMPLES FROM SUSPECTED MALARIA PATIENTS IN MADAGASCAR Am J Trop Med Hyg, March 1, 2007; 76(3): 481 - 485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Mueller, I. Betuela, M. Ginny, J. C. Reeder, and B. Genton The Sensitivity of the OptiMAL Rapid Diagnostic Test to the Presence of Plasmodium falciparum Gametocytes Compromises Its Ability To Monitor Treatment Outcomes in an Area of Papua New Guinea in which Malaria Is Endemic J. Clin. Microbiol., February 1, 2007; 45(2): 627 - 630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. VERON and B. CARME RECOVERY AND USE OF PLASMODIUM DNA FROM MALARIA RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TESTS Am J Trop Med Hyg, June 1, 2006; 74(6): 941 - 943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Ndao, E. Bandyayera, E. Kokoskin, T. W. Gyorkos, J. D. MacLean, and B. J. Ward Comparison of Blood Smear, Antigen Detection, and Nested-PCR Methods for Screening Refugees from Regions Where Malaria Is Endemic after a Malaria Outbreak in Quebec, Canada J. Clin. Microbiol., June 1, 2004; 42(6): 2694 - 2700. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Daily and M. A. Waldron Case 22-2003 - A 22-Year-Old Man with Chills and Fever after a Stay in South America N. Engl. J. Med., July 17, 2003; 349(3): 287 - 295. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Richardson, M. Ciach, K. J. Y. Zhong, I. Crandall, and K. C. Kain Evaluation of the Makromed Dipstick Assay versus PCR for Diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Returned Travelers J. Clin. Microbiol., December 1, 2002; 40(12): 4528 - 4530. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Iqbal, N. Khalid, and P. R. Hira Comparison of Two Commercial Assays with Expert Microscopy for Confirmation of Symptomatically Diagnosed Malaria J. Clin. Microbiol., December 1, 2002; 40(12): 4675 - 4678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. G. Playford and J. Walker Evaluation of the ICT Malaria P.f/P.v and the OptiMal Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Malaria in Febrile Returned Travellers J. Clin. Microbiol., November 1, 2002; 40(11): 4166 - 4171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Mankhambo, M. Kanjala, S. Rudman, V. M. Lema, and S. J. Rogerson Evaluation of the OptiMAL Rapid Antigen Test and Species-Specific PCR To Detect Placental Plasmodium falciparum Infection at Delivery J. Clin. Microbiol., January 1, 2002; 40(1): 155 - 158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Iqbal, A. Sher, and A. Rab Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2-Based Immunocapture Diagnostic Assay for Malaria: Cross-Reactivity with Rheumatoid Factors J. Clin. Microbiol., March 1, 2000; 38(3): 1184 - 1186. [Abstract] [Full Text]