Evaluation of the Accuracy of the EasyTest(TM) Malaria Pf/Pan Ag, a Rapid Diagnostic Test, in Uganda.
10.3347/kjp.2014.52.5.501
- Author:
Chom Kyu CHONG
1
;
Pyo Yun CHO
;
Byoung Kuk NA
;
Seong Kyu AHN
;
Jin Su KIM
;
Jin Soo LEE
;
Sung Keun LEE
;
Eun Taek HAN
;
Hak Yong KIM
;
Yun Kyu PARK
;
Seok Ho CHA
;
Tong Soo KIM
Author Information
1. GenBody Inc., Cheonan 330-714, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Plasmodium falciparum;
rapid diagnostic test;
malaria;
point-of-care testing;
field test;
Uganda
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Antigens, Protozoan/blood/*isolation & purification;
Child;
Child, Preschool;
Humans;
Malaria, Falciparum/*diagnosis/epidemiology;
Parasitemia;
Point-of-Care Systems;
Predictive Value of Tests;
Reagent Kits, Diagnostic;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Uganda/epidemiology;
Young Adult
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2014;52(5):501-505
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
In recent years, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have been widely used for malaria detection, primarily because of their simple operation, fast results, and straightforward interpretation. The Asan EasyTest(TM) Malaria Pf/Pan Ag is one of the most commonly used malaria RDTs in several countries, including Korea and India. In this study, we tested the diagnostic performance of this RDT in Uganda to evaluate its usefulness for field diagnosis of malaria in this country. Microscopic and PCR analyses, and the Asan EasyTest(TM) Malaria Pf/Pan Ag rapid diagnostic test, were performed on blood samples from 185 individuals with suspected malaria in several villages in Uganda. Compared to the microscopic analysis, the sensitivity of the RDT to detect malaria infection was 95.8% and 83.3% for Plasmodium falciparum and non-P. falciparum, respectively. Although the diagnostic sensitivity of the RDT decreased when parasitemia was < or =500 parasites/microl, it showed 96.8% sensitivity (98.4% for P. falciparum and 93.8% for non-P. falciparum) in blood samples with parasitemia > or =100 parasites/microl. The specificity of the RDT was 97.3% for P. falciparum and 97.3% for non-P. falciparum. These results collectively suggest that the accuracy of the Asan EasyTest(TM) Malaria Pf/Pan Ag makes it an effective point-of-care diagnostic tool for malaria in Uganda.
