Evaluation of a rapid dipstick test, Malar-CheckTM, for the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Brazil

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo

Priscilla Elisangela Avila²  Karin Kirchgatter²  Karen Cristina S. Brunialti²  Alessandra M. Oliveira²  Rinaldo F. Siciliano¹  Silvia Maria Di Santi² 

[1] ,Superintendência de Controle de Endemias Núcleo de Estudos em Malária São Paulo SP ,Brasil

关键词: Malaria diagnosis;    Plasmodium falciparum;    Rapid dipstick test;    Immunocapture assay;    Malar-Check;    Histidine Rich Protein II;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0036-46652002000500012

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The present study was carried out to evaluate the Malar-CheckTM Pf test, an immunochromatographic assay that detects Plasmodium falciparum Histidine Rich Protein II, does not require equipment, and is easy and rapid to perform. In dilution assays performed to test sensitivity against known parasite density, Malar-CheckTMwere compared with thick blood smear (TBS), the gold standard for diagnosis. Palo Alto isolate or P. falciparum blood from patients with different parasitemias was used. The average cut-off points for each technique in three independent experiments were 12 and 71 parasites/mm³ (TBS and Malar-CheckTM, respectively). In the field assays, samples were collected from patients with fever who visited endemic regions. Compared to TBS, Malar-CheckTMyielded true-positive results in 38 patients, false-positive results in 3, true-negative results in 23, and false-negative result in 1. Malar-CheckTMperformed with samples from falciparum-infected patients after treatment showed persistence of antigen up to 30 days. Malar-CheckTM should aid the diagnosis of P. falciparum in remote areas and improve routine diagnosis even when microscopy is available. Previous P. falciparum infection, which can determine a false-positive test in cured individuals, should be considered. The prompt results obtained with the Malar-CheckTM for early diagnosis could avoid disease evolution to severe cases.

【 授权许可】

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