Rapid Point-of-Care Isothermal Amplification Assay for the Detection of Malaria without Nucleic Acid Purification.

ABSTRACT: Malaria remains one of the most prevalent infectious diseases and results in significant mortality. Isothermal amplification (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) is used to detect malarial DNA at levels of ~1 parasite/µL blood in ≤30 minutes without the isolation of parasite nucleic acid from subject's blood or saliva. The technique targets the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene and is capable of distinguishing Plasmodium falciparum from Plasmodium vivax. Malarial diagnosis by the gold standard microscopic examination of blood smears is generally carried out only after moderate-to-severe symptoms appear. Rapid diagnostic antigen tests are available but generally require infection levels in the range of 200-2,000 parasites/µL for a positive diagnosis and cannot distinguish

SUBMITTER: Modak SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4721682 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature