Refining malaria diagnosis in high-transmission areas: a dual-approach with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and dbPCR-NALFIA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are an essential tool in managing febrile illnesses in endemic settings. However, persisting parasite antigen after treatment or spontaneous remission, which can be detected by histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2)-based RDT or Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH)-based RDTs, could lead to misdiagnosis. To overcome the latter, a diagnostic approach combining sequential interpretation of two-step malaria RDTs incorporating two parasite antigens detecting PfHRP2 and pLDH coupled with a direct-on-blood mini PCR-nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay (dbPCR-NALFIA) has been evaluated.

Methods

Febrile patients visiting two rural health facilities in Burkina Faso were enrolled. For each participant, an HRP2-based RDT and blood slides fo

SUBMITTER: Some DY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12330003 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature