Automated Reader Interprets Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests

Parasitological confirmation of malaria is now recommended in all febrile patients to reduce inappropriate use of antimalarial drugs.

Widespread implementation of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is regarded as an effective method, but the quality of diagnosis provided by RDTs in remote rural dispensaries and health centers is not ideal.

Scientists at the Ifakara Health Institute (Bagamoyo, Tanzania) carried out a prospective cohort of consecutive patients aged more than one year from both genders, seeking routine care for febrile episodes at local dispensaries. Blood samples were taken for thick blood smear (TBS) microscopic examination and malaria RDT, SD Bioline Malaria Antigen Pf/Pan (Yongin, Korea). RDT results were interpreted by both visual interpretation and automated reader device. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed in all cases of discrepant results between expert visual interpretations of RDT, and the reading device’s interpretation, and expert microscopy results.

Between January and March 2012, a total, 1,346 febrile subjects were included in the final analysis. The SD RDT, when used in conjunction with the DekiReader automated reader (Fio Corporation; Toronto, ON Canada) and upon visual interpretation, had sensitivities of 95.3% and 94.7%, respectively and the specificities were 94.6% and 95.6% respectively when compared to microscopy, considered the gold standard. There was a high percentage of overall agreement between the two methods of interpretation.

The authors concluded that the results of the study reflect the situation in real practice and show good performance characteristics of DekiReader on interpreting malaria RDTs in the hands of local laboratory technicians. They also suggest that a system like this could provide great benefits to the health care system. The study was published on April 24, 2013, in the Malaria Journal.

Related Links:
Ifakara Health Institute
SD Bioline
Fio Corporation