Comparative performance of microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, and multiplex real-time PCR for detection of malaria parasites among pregnant women in northwest Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Low malaria parasitaemia is a diagnostic challenge in pregnancy, leading to false negative microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results. However, these submicroscopic or subpatent infections could cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, evaluating the diagnostic performance of microscopy, RDT, and multiplex qPCR in pregnancy is vital for informed decisions.

Methods

A total of 835 peripheral blood and 372 placental blood samples were collected from 835 pregnant women attending first antenatal care or admitted for delivery at selected health facilities in northwest Ethiopia between November 2021 and July 2022. In multiplex qPCR, all microscopy and/or RDT positive samples were extracted and amplified individually, whereas all samples negative by both RDT and mi

SUBMITTER: Tamir Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11748328 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature