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

A H Cooke Department of Clinical Parasitology, The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.

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P L Chiodini Department of Clinical Parasitology, The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.

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T Doherty Department of Clinical Parasitology, The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.

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A H Moody Department of Clinical Parasitology, The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.

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J Ries Department of Clinical Parasitology, The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.

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M Pinder Department of Clinical Parasitology, The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1999.60.173
Volume/Issue:
Volume 60: Issue 2
Page(s):
173–176
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Article has an altmetric score of 6

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.

Author Notes

Published Online:
Feb 1999
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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