A RAPID DIPSTICK ANTIGEN CAPTURE ASSAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF FALCIPARUM-MALARIA

Recent advances in the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum infections h ave made it possible to consider supplementing light microscopy with a standardized dipstick antigen capture assay based on the detection of a parasite-specific protein, which is secreted by the asexual blood s tages and immature gametocytes but not by the other stages, Field tria ls indicate that this dipstick assay provides consistently reproducibl e results, with a threshold of detection of P. falciparum parasitaemia similar to that obtained by high quality routine malaria microscopy a nd a specificity and sensitivity of around 90% compared with standard thick blood film microscopy, The stability, reproducibility, and ease of use of the assay clearly indicate that it has potential for applica tion in the management of malaria, particularly al the peripheral heal th care level, provided its accuracy can be assured and that it can be made affordable. Consideration should be given to ifs wider use where operational requirements and resources so justify, and where decision s are based on adequate evaluation of the existing health delivery sys tems.