scholarly journals Malaria Diagnosis in Non-Endemic Settings: The European Experience in the Last 22 Years

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2265
Author(s):  
Adriana Calderaro ◽  
Sara Montecchini ◽  
Mirko Buttrini ◽  
Giovanna Piccolo ◽  
Sabina Rossi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Standard ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Reliable System ◽  
Gold Standard Method ◽  
Molecular Assays ◽  
European Experience ◽  
Malaria Eradication

Accurate, prompt, and reliable tools for the diagnosis of malaria are crucial for tracking the successes or drawbacks of control and elimination efforts, and for future programs aimed at global malaria eradication. Although microscopy remains the gold standard method, the number of imported malaria cases and the risk of reappearance of autochthonous cases stimulated several laboratories located in European countries to evaluate methods and algorithms suited to non-endemic settings, where skilled microscopists are not always available. In this review, an overview of the field evaluation and a comparison of the methods used for the diagnosis of malaria by European laboratories is reported, showing that the development of numerous innovations is continuous. In particular, the combination of rapid diagnostic tests and molecular assays with microscopy represents a reliable system for the early diagnosis of malaria in non-endemic settings.

The diagnostic performance of rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy for malaria diagnosis in eastern Sudan using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay as a reference standard

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (11) ◽  
pp. 701-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakya A Abdalla ◽  
NourElhouda A Rahma ◽  
Elhashimi E Hassan ◽  
Tajeldin M Abdallah ◽  
Hadeel E Hamad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Eastern Sudan

Abstract Background Accurate diagnosis of malaria infection is essential for successful control and management of the disease. Both microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are recommended for malaria diagnosis, however, RDTs are more commonly used. The aim of the current study was to assess the performance of microscopy and RDTs in the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum infection using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as the gold standard. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in Kassala Hospital, eastern Sudan. A total of 341 febrile participants of all ages were recruited. Blood specimens were collected and malaria testing was performed using an RDT (SD Bioline Malaria Ag Pf), microscopy and nested PCR. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively) of microscopy and the RDT were investigated. Results The prevalence of P. falciparum malaria infections in this study was 22.9%, 24.3% and 26.7% by PCR, microscopy and RDT, respectively. Compared with microscopy, the RDT had slightly higher sensitivity (80.7% vs 74.3%; p=0.442), equivalent specificity (89.3% vs 90.4%), a similar PPV (69.2% vs 69.8%) and a higher NPV (94.0% vs 92.2%). Conclusions The diagnostic performance of the RDT was better than that of microscopy in the diagnosis of P. falciparum malaria when nested PCR was used as the gold standard.

scholarly journals Evaluation of distilled water as buffered water replacement during 3% Giemsa’s solution preparation in Malaria diagnosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (SPL1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lai Yan Xia ◽  
Hamidah Abu Bakar
Keyword(s):  
Standard Method ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Peripheral Blood Smear ◽  
Blood Film ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Gold Standard Method ◽  
Modified Method

Malaria is a life-threatening disease which has claimed many lives. Giemsa's stain is the gold standard method in malaria diagnosis. Generally, Giemsa's stain is diluted with buffered water. However, sometimes, it produces poor staining of the blood smears, in which can create a major challenge in detecting and identifying positive malaria parasites in a peripheral blood smear. This can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment to a patient. The present study examined the effect of replacing the buffered water to distilled water during the preparation of 3% Giemsa's solution. Blood specimens were collected from selected positive (n=80) and negative (n=300) malaria cases in EDTA tube. The modified method employed distilled water and different concentrations of buffered water for diluting Giemsa’s solution stock. The microscopy observation was performed on each set of blood film stained by both modified and standard Giemsa staining methods by two WHO’s qualified technicians. All Giemsa solutions with different diluents were comparable in detecting malaria parasites in the blood films. There was no difference between distilled water and different concentrations of buffered water. Furthermore, distilled water produced homogeneous staining and clearer background of the blood films, which enables different species of malaria to be identified. The present study demonstrates that the modified staining using distilled water in malaria parasites identification is comparable to the gold standard method. In addition, the modified method is rapid, easily available, cost-effective, and reliable.

scholarly journals Evaluation of two new rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for the diagnosis of malaria

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahmida Jahan ◽  
Rubayet Elahi ◽  
Md. Khaja Mohiuddin ◽  
Md. Gulam Musawwir Khan ◽  
Mohammad Shafiul Alam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Accurate Diagnosis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Resource Limited Settings ◽  
Malaria Rdts ◽  
Resource Limited

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) address the need for accurate diagnosis of malaria, particularly in resource limited settings. In this study, two malaria RDTs were compared with gold standard microscopy: On Site Pf/Pv test detecting Plasmodium falciparum-specific histidine rich protein-2 (Pf HR P2) and P. vivax-specific parasitic lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) antigens; and SD Bioline anti-Pf/Pv test detecting anti-HR P2 and anti-pL DH antibodies for the diagnosis of P. falciparum and P. vivax infections, respectively. For OnSite test, the overall sensitivity was found 96.2% , specificity 98.2% , positive predictive value (PPV ) 98.2% , negative predictive value (NPV ) 96.4% and agreement with microscopy was found to be 0.94. On the other hand SD Bioline test, the overall sensitivity was 75.4%, specificity 83.7%, PPV 84.3% , NPV 74.5% and agreement with microscopy was 0.59. These data revealed that the R DT based on antigen detection (Onsite test) was more reliable than that based on the antibody detection (SD Bioline test).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v5i2.16931 Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2011; 05 (02): 11-15

scholarly journals Rapid Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Directly from Blood for the Diagnosis of Bloodstream Infections: A Mini-Review

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 830
Author(s):  
Anna Rita Buonomini ◽  
Elisabetta Riva ◽  
Giovanni Di Bonaventura ◽  
Giovanni Gherardi
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Gold Standard Method ◽  
Methicillin Resistant

Staphylococcus aureus represents a major human pathogen able to cause a number of infections, especially bloodstream infections (BSI). Clinical use of methicillin has led to the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and MRSA-BSI have been reported to be associated with high morbidity and mortality. Clinical diagnosis of BSI is based on the results from blood culture that, although considered the gold standard method, is time-consuming. For this reason, rapid diagnostic tests to identify the presence of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA isolates directly in blood cultures are being used with increasing frequency to rapidly commence targeted antimicrobial therapy, also in the light of antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Here, we review and report the most common rapid non-molecular and molecular methods currently available to detect the presence of MRSA directly from blood.

scholarly journals Field Evaluation of Cholkit Rapid Diagnostic Test for Vibrio Cholerae O1 During a Cholera Outbreak in Malawi, 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Innocent Chibwe ◽  
Watipaso Kasambara ◽  
Mathews Kagoli ◽  
Harry Milala ◽  
Charity Gondwe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vibrio Cholerae ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Test ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Cholera Outbreak ◽  
Vibrio Cholerae O1

Abstract Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for cholera are an important emerging tool for surveillance, yet the currently available tests have several limitations. We assess the performance of a new RDT, Cholkit, during a cholera outbreak in Malawi compared with culture and find a sensitivity of 93.0% (95% CI, 83.0%–98.1%) and a specificity of 95.7% (95% CI, 78.1%–100.0%).

scholarly journals Prozone-like phenomenon in travellers with fatal malaria: report of two cases

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (03) ◽  
pp. 321-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lurdes Santos ◽  
Nuno Rocha Pereira ◽  
Paulo Andrade ◽  
Paulo Figueiredo Dias ◽  
Carlos Lima Alves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Microscopy Observation ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
False Negative Results ◽  
Potential Benefits

Malaria diagnosis remains a concern in non-endemic countries, with rapid diagnosis being crucial to improve patients’ outcome. Rapid diagnostic tests have high sensitivity but they also have flaws and false-negative results that might jeopardize malaria diagnosis. Some false-negative results might relate to a prozone-like effect. The authors describe two patients with false-negative rapid diagnostic tests in which a prozone-like effect might have been involved. The authors highlight that these tests should not be used without accompanying light microscopy observation of blood films and discuss potential benefits of using rapid diagnostic tests with more than one specific antigen for Plasmodium falciparum.

scholarly journals Performance of two rapid diagnostic tests for malaria diagnosis at the China-Myanmar border area

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Yan ◽  
Nana Li ◽  
Xu Wei ◽  
Peipei Li ◽  
Zhenjun Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Border Area

scholarly journals Expanding Access to Malaria Diagnosis through Retail Shops in Western Kenya: What Do Shop Workers Think?

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andria Rusk ◽  
Catherine Goodman ◽  
Violet Naanyu ◽  
Beatrice Koech ◽  
Andrew Obala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Presumptive Treatment ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
The Common ◽  
Viable Approach

Background. The common symptoms of malaria reduce the specificity of clinical diagnosis. Presumptive treatment is conventional but can lead to overdiagnosis of malaria, delay of appropriate treatment, overprescription of antimalarials, and drug resistance. Routine use of diagnostic tests can address many of these concerns. Though treatment is often procured from retailers, there is low availability of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria (MRDTs), a simple, inexpensive, and accurate diagnostic solution. We know little about the challenges to expanding access to diagnostics through these outlets. Methods. To understand the perceptions of the benefits and challenges to selling rapid diagnostic tests for malaria, we conducted focus group discussions with antimalarial retailers who serve the residents of the Webuye Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in western Kenya. Results. Medicine retailers perceived MRDTs to be beneficial to their customers and businesses but also included cost, fear of the tests, risks of self-treatment, and regulatory concerns among the challenges to using and selling MRDTs. Conclusion. MRDTs represent a viable approach to increase access to malaria diagnostic testing. Medicine retailers are eager for MRDTs to be made available to them. However, certain challenges remain to implementation in retail outlets and should be addressed in advance.

scholarly journals COMPARISON BETWEEN MICROSCOPY AND RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA AT A TERTIARY CARE MEDICAL INSTITUTION IN UTTARAKHAND (A 3-YEAR STUDY)

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratima Gupta ◽  
Priyanka Gupta ◽  
Shalinee Rao ◽  
Neha Singh ◽  
Deepjyoti Kalita
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
Peripheral Blood Smear ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Malaria Antigen

 Objectives: Malaria is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases all over the world including India. Although the microscopic study of stained peripheral blood smear (PBS) is a gold standard of malaria diagnosis due to some subjective errors, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) can be a suitable alternative. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and demographic details of malaria cases along with a comparison between the two most common screening methods: PBS and RDTs.Methods: Demographic profile, the prevalence of malaria in this region of Uttarakhand and evaluation of efficacy of RDT as a screening method was performed. Analysis of PBS microscopy for malaria parasites was performed and compared with immunochromatography based RDT over a duration of 3 years.Results: Out of total 2982 clinically suspected patients of malaria, 132 were found to be positive by either of the two methods. Prevalence of malaria was 4.4% in our study. Plasmodium vivax was the predominant species isolated (95%). Males outnumbered females with a ratio of 2.1:1. The most common age group affected was 30–49 years. Sensitivity and specificity of RDT was found to be 91.8% and 93.8%, respectively. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value were found to be 97.8% and 98.9%, respectively.Conclusion: We conclude that Uttarakhand is a low prevalence area for Malaria and the RDT based on malaria antigen (whole blood) method is as specific and sensitive as the traditional PBS microscopy. Thus, it can be used as an alternative to PBS microscopy.

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