COMPARISON OF A RAPID DIPSTICK TEST AND THICK BLOOD FILMS FOR DETECTING PARASITES OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM USED UNDER TYPICAL CONDITIONS ATA SEMIRURAL HOSPITAL IN COLE DIVOIRE

This prospective study compares a rapid dipstick test (ParaSight(TM)-F ) with thick blood films for the detection of parasites of P falciapru m, under 'typical' conditions and constraints to be found in a semi-ru ral hospital in a tropical developing country in Africa. Eighty-two sa mples were tested using the two techniques and found to concur in 95.1 % of cases. However, in four of the samples the results differed. The thick blood films of 60 samples were later re-read by a local referenc e laboratory. Of these 98.3% were in agreement with the reading perfor med at the hospital. Only one of the 60 slides differed. The rapid dip stick test proved to be both easy to use and free from many of the usu al constraints such as a need for formally trained or experienced labo ratory staff, laboratory equipment, and reliable water and electricity supplies. In an holoendemic area for P falciparum transmission, it wo uld appear to be eminently suitable, in technical terms and ease of ha ndling as well as on the basis of rapid results, for wider distributio n within this region. Its main drawback remains financial.