Effectiveness of Immunochromatographic Test in the Diagnosis of Falciparum Malaria

Abstract

Introduction : Various diagnostic tools are used to confirm diagnosis of different types of malaria. Immunochromatographic test for Plasmodium falciparum (ICT malaria Pf) is one of them. Objective: Aim of this prospective study was to find out a rapid, effective and easy tool for the diagnosis of malaria for the hilly area of Bangladesh. Method: A prospective study was conducted at hilly area of Bangladesh over a period of 7 months. Clinically suspected 50 cases of malaria of both sexes of different age group were included in the study. Blood samples were collected and simultaneously microscopic examination of Leishman's stain film and ICT malaria Pf were done. Results were compared using standard method. Result: The mean age of the patients was 29.9±18 years and 49 were male. Among the 19 parasitaemic cases, 16 (84.2%) cases were Plasmodium falciparum positive, 02 (10.5%) cases were Plasmodium vivax positive and 01 (5.3%) was mixed infection. The degree of parasitaemia (malarial parasite count /cmm) ranges form 2000/cmm to 30,000/cmm with the mean 10,395±8,444/cmm. Among the 19 microscopically positive cases, 16 (84.2%) cases were ICT positive and 03 (15.8%) cases were ICT negative. The sensitivity of ICT for Pf in this study was 94.1% and the specificity of ICT for Pf was 100%. The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 100% and 97.1% respectively Conclusion: The study revealed that the "ICT Malaria Pf has a very important role in the diagnosis of Plasmodium malaria. The sensitivity and specificity are approx 100% and very rapid in action. Key words: Falciparum malaria; Immunochromatographic test; Hilly area of Bangladesh DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jafmc.v7i1.8624 JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 7, No 1 (June) 2011; 31-33